Tests at age seven are to be dropped for children in Wales, education minister Jane Davidson revealed last week. She told the Society of Education Officers' conference in Llandrindod Wells that she had received 'overwhelming support' for her proposal to discontinue the national tests at the end of Key Stage 1. Ms Davidson said, 'With such support from teachers, parents and representative bodies, I have decided the Key Stage 1 tests and tasks should be scrapped with immediate effect. This will reduce the administrative burden on primary school teachers and release more time for other classroom activities.' She said teachers could now plan activities for the rest of the year 'knowing that the tests and tasks will not be mandatory'.
Tests at age seven are to be dropped for children in Wales, education minister Jane Davidson revealed last week. She told the Society of Education Officers' conference in Llandrindod Wells that she had received 'overwhelming support' for her proposal to discontinue the national tests at the end of Key Stage 1. Ms Davidson said, 'With such support from teachers, parents and representative bodies, I have decided the Key Stage 1 tests and tasks should be scrapped with immediate effect. This will reduce the administrative burden on primary school teachers and release more time for other classroom activities.' She said teachers could now plan activities for the rest of the year 'knowing that the tests and tasks will not be mandatory'.
