Calling headteachers: support the Drop SATS 2021 campaign

In the midst of a pandemic, statutory assessments such as SATs, the Phonics Screening Check, and the Multiplication Tables Check are a wholly inappropriate way to assess young children and their schools. Instead, we believe, teacher-led assessments provide all the information needed to identify learning gaps, bridge those gaps, and ensure a smooth transition to secondary school.

Obviously, schools need to be held accountable, but basing performance on one-size-fits-all tests taken by youngsters in middle of the Covid-19 crisis will produce only meaningless data. It will also put unnecessary pressure on children who have been through enough.

Please join school leaders across the country calling for all statutory assessments to be cancelled in the 2020/21 school year. There are a number of ways you can support the campaign:

• Please join our 200+ school leaders network by clicking on the button below.
• Together with a group of heads, we have created a brief, powerful statement calling for the government to drop statutory tests in 2020/21. You can share this with your governing body, school leader network and parents.
• Sign and share our DROP SATS 2021 petition
• If you’re active on social media then please make sure you’re following MTAS and share our posts on Facebook and Twitter