Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of SATs testing in primary schools on the mental health and well being of children.

Statutory assessments at Key Stages 1 and 2 are an essential part of ensuring that children master the basics of reading, writing and mathematics which are key to succeeding at secondary school and in later life. They help teachers understand how their pupils are performing against national expectations and enable them to identify where extra support may be needed. Statutory assessments also allows schools to be held to high standards and ensures that they offer a high quality education to all pupils. National curriculum tests undergo a robust three-year development process, taking account of pupils’ experiences of the tests through large-scale representative trialling and review by teachers, head teachers and assessment and inclusion experts.

Statutory assessments are not meant to cause stress and anxiety to pupils. Schools should encourage all pupils to work hard and achieve well. The Department trusts teachers to administer them in a proportionate way that does not put undue pressure on pupils, and certainly not at the expense of their wellbeing. Schools should provide continuous and appropriate support as part of a whole school approach to supporting the wellbeing and resilience of pupils. The Department encourages schools to ensure that any pupil experiencing high levels of stress speaks to their teachers or school counsellors.