Do you know that young children sit high-pressure statutory tests and exams in four – sometimes five – out of seven years in primary school?

Children aged four take an on-screen Reception Baseline test in English and maths within the first few weeks of school.

SATs exams – four days of tests taken under GCSE exam-style conditions – dominate children’s final year at primary, with months spent cramming in English and maths and practising old SATs papers.

In the last few years, around 40% of children have been told they “failed” SATs, the worst possible preparation for their transition to secondary. A disproportionate number of these pupils have SEND or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. More than 8 in 10 headteachers think SATs impact pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds more than their peers. And an incredible 92% believe SATs should be scrapped or reformed.

Parents, teachers and heads recognise the negative effects of SATs and are united in calling for change.

These tests are not designed to help develop our children’s potential or encourage their love of learning. They exist only so that the government can collect pupil data and judge schools against each other.