Vix Lowthian is the Green Party's spokesperson on education. She posted this on her blog on Monday LINK
Thousands of parents of six and seven year olds will be keeping their children at home on Tuesday May 3rd as a protest against the government national SATS exams.
The Green Party
are very clear on this – we would abolish external SATS, and trust the
professional judgement of teachers to assess their pupils in a much less
pressurized environment. As Green Party national spokesperson for
Education – and also a parent of 3 primary-aged boys and a working
teacher – I have every sympathy with parents making the tough decision
to withdraw their children from school.
Education at primary school level must be about a broad,
child-centred curriculum with a wide variety of experiences and
opportunities which will engender a love of learning and equip them for
life. This over-emphasis on external testing is zapping the creativity
out of our teaching and learning, thereby stifling the inquisitive
nature of our children and limiting their future prospects.
The Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign
has led the strike, saying that English children are ‘over-tested,
over-worked and in a school system that places more importance of test
results and league tables than children’s happiness and joy of
learning’. It is a clear message to education secretary Nicky Morgan and
her department that enough is enough, and we should not put our
children through such a narrow and high-stake learning experience.
I
fully support families getting behind our main teaching unions who have
repeatedly called for an end to the over testing in our schools. Even
the head of the usually moderate NAHT (Headteachers’ union) Russell
Hobby has criticised the tests: “Testing has a role to play in the
assessment of children, but the poorly designed tests and last-minute
changes we have seen this year do not add value to teaching.”
I back the campaign against over testing of our seven year olds. I know that those children out of school on May 3rd will have a happy and enriching experience away from mock tests and box ticking. The government needs to listen.
The #LetKidsBeKids have issued the press release below after today's action:
To all of
the parents, grandparents, friends, and most importantly, children who took
part in an amazing today, a huge thank you! You are amazing people who have
achieved something enormous! We salute you all!
Thank you
to all of the teachers and headteachers who supported both the events and the
children in taking part. This has been in support of you.
The press
has played a massive part in the success of this campaign. We want to thank you
for the interest you have shown and for the dedicated and thoughtful way in
which so many of you have worked with the supporters of the campaign in order
to enable us to share our opinions. In many cases, opinions that, as parents,
you have shared with us.
Thank you
also to the many, many supporters who have rallied to the numerous calls to
appear on radio and TV and to be interviewed for newspapers. You have done us
all proud! It has been amazing to hear so many standing up for what they
believe in.
We have
monitored the day from the tagboard http://bit.ly/KidsStrike3rdMayNowand have enjoyed
watching the thousands of pictures coming in of children enjoying fun learning
everywhere. We are happy to report that no child looked damaged or harmed in
any way as a result of missing one day off school. Thank you for your concern
DfE. Children visited museums, enjoyed woodland walks, learnt about democracy,
engaged in scientific discovery, painted, sang, danced... they did all the
things that kids should be doing. Today we Let Our Kids Be Kids.
Highlights
for us today were watching over 600 attendees and Children’s laureate Chris
Riddell at the Brighton and Hove rally showing support for their amazing
teachers; banner waving children handing over more than 47,000 signatures on
our 38 Degrees petition to the DfE offices and
knowing that at 12.30 we were united via this
statement in shouting “Are you listening Nicky?” across the nation. We
really hope she heard us...
We were
also encouraged to hear Nick Gibb MP so publicly demonstrating the problems
with SAT tests on Radio 4 when attempting to
answer questions for 11 year olds... he said ‘it’s not about him’ and he’s
absolutely right. This is about OUR children who feel the pressure of these
ridiculous tests just as he did today.
Throughout
the day over 400 events took place across the country; the absence letter has
been downloaded over 63,000 times; our hashtag #KidsStrike3rdMay trended and we
have been sent thousands of pictures of smiling happy children so far.
We have a
leading statistician compiling the figures (parents are statisticians too!) but
for now are delighted to estimate that today we are reporting numbers in HIGH
THOUSANDS. This is far bigger than we imagined this would become just over 5
weeks ago... what an amazing show of parent power!
This
figure does not include the thousands of parents not able to strike due to work
commitments who took letters into school to say they supported our action today
and also want to see change.
We have
shown in just over 5 weeks that there is an enormous enthusiasm nationwide for
the cancellation of this year’s chaotic SAT tests.
Today was
about standing together to share our belief that the education system in this
country is damaging our children. It was about making our voices heard. It was
about working together to bring about change. It was just the start.
Parents
have shown their massive support today for their children’s teachers and have
demonstrated clearly that they want to see a change. We need to see teachers,
unions and the Government working together with us now to find a way that
works. Not just a way to pass tests, but a way that encourages a lifelong love
of learning in our children and that develops, through a curriculum rich in a
wealth of experiences, the confidence, imagination and passion for learning
that will help our children to succeed.
The NAHT
stated that ‘The government must step back from its piecemeal, last minute changes
and engage with the profession now – well in advance of next year – in a
fundamental review of assessment from reception to key stage three.’ Parents
have shown today that they are offering teachers their full support - now.
Please support us and act NOW to make this happen.
To Nicky
Morgan: we have shown you today that we want to discuss education with you.
Teachers, parents and students. We are asking you again to do the right thing.
Today's action by parents who are keeping their children off school for a day of 'fun learning' in protest against a school curriculum dominated by SAT tests has been supported on Twitter by the Green Party. Green Party policy is to abolish external SATs tests.
These are the first major children's strikes since those of 1911. HERE
See more from the Green Party's Education Spokesperson HERE
