Headteacher brands SATs a "fiasco"
5:10pm Friday 18th July 2008
A HEADTEACHER has branded problems with this year’s SATs tests a “fiasco,”
Val Fryer, of Beaumont Primary, says the school is still waiting for exams scripts to be returned by marking organisation, ETS.
She fears some papers may have to be returned for remarking when they arrive, because many have been marked in haste because of problems with the system.
And Mrs Fryer says children have been left upset and disappointed by the hold-up: “The children have worked very hard for their exams. I think they are upset and very disappointed by what has happened.
“The school received the results online on Thursday, but because some are on the threshold of different levels, Mrs Fryer is anxious to check the marked papers against the results.
“I am worried that because the papers were marked in a hurry because of the problems. I will be scrutinising the papers properly and I think I will be sending some back. “This whole thing has been a fiasco and extremely unfair on everyone, especially the children.”
The school has 31 pupils still awaiting their English papers.
Mrs Fryer said the delay meant she would still be dealing with this year’s SATs exams in September and it would have a knock-on effect for secondary schools in assessing children’s ability.
Marking firm, ETS has suffered major problems during the marking process, leading to nationwide delays in returning papers. It also sent papers meant for a Bolton school to others of the same name in Swindon and Staffordshire.
England’s Schools Secretary Ed Balls has described the delays — which have also affected St Andrew’s CE in Over Hulton and Blackrod School — as unsatisfactory and “clearly unacceptable”. An inquiry has been launched into the delays.