More Than A Score believes schools, teachers and pupils deserve better than the current assessment regime.

We understand that the primary years are critical to instil a love of learning and deliver a rewarding school experience. But over-testing hampers schools’ efforts to facilitate this. It places an unnecessary burden on both teachers and pupils and is a wholly inefficient way to measure a school’s performance.

We support heads who believe teachers and pupils should be encouraged and motivated to do their very best, not demoralised by rote-learning and a narrow curriculum. Devoting so much school time to high-stakes testing ill-prepares the children in our care for the demands of 21st century society.

We think a school’s achievements can be better assessed in the round. Alternative assessment systems are proven to improve children’s education and deliver a more complete analysis of a school’s performance.

For many years, the year 6 curriculum has narrowed and the pressure on 10 and 11 year-olds has grown as pupils are prepared for KS2 SATs. Now, the government is pushing ahead with its plans to introduce baseline assessment in reception. This is in the face of public opposition from over 700 heads, teachers, academics and experts. The British Educational Research Association has described the proposals as “ethically and methodologically questionable” and with “dubious validity”.

In addition, the phonics check remains in place despite overwhelming opposition from heads, teachers and parents and, in 2019, the government will undertake a pilot of the times tables check – another example of children’s education being restricted and narrowed to meet targets and league tables.

Together, we can take a stand against unfair and inefficient assessment. If you agree that children and schools deserve better, please join our campaign.