ASCL comment on SATs results

Commenting on this morning’s publication of Key Stage 2 SATs results, Tiffnie Harris, primary specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said:

“Congratulations to schools and pupils on this year’s SATs results which are the product of a great deal of hard work in the very challenging circumstances of an ongoing funding crisis.

“It is great to see an improvement in the percentage of children reaching the expected standard in maths. The decrease in the proportion reaching the expected standard in reading needs to be seen in the context of an overall improvement since 2016.

“These results show that schools are doing an exceptional job despite the funding pressures. The government cannot continue to take educational standards for granted however and must improve the level of funding as a matter of urgency.

“It must also review the current SATs system which is not fit for purpose with stakes that are too high and a focus on tests which do not reflect the breadth and richness of the curriculum taught in primary schools. We need a system which is fairer on schools and fairer on children.”