Headteacher's anger over '˜ludicrous' new SATs system

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A headteacher has described her anger with a 'deeply flawed' new testing system she said left children thinking they were failures.

Helen Williamson, of Billingshurst Primary School (BPS), sent a strongly worded letter to parents after children in Years 2 and 6 received their SATs results.

Both groups of children were the first to take the new tests, which have been criticised by teachers all over the country as being too tough.

Miss Williamson said she felt “professionally compromised” having to share the results with parents, adding: “This is the first year of the revised assessment for the new curriculum coming into force for all children and I believe it to be deeply flawed.

“A system that defines ‘failure’ at the primary phase is, in my opinion, ludicrous.”

Only 45 per cent of West Sussex primary schoolchildren met the expected new standards, compared to 77 per cent last year. Nationwide, the trend was similar, with just 53 per cent making the grade in reading, writing and maths.

The Department for Education said the results were “not comparable” as they were achieved using two entirely different systems of assessment.