Margaret Ogden, Alex Dickie, and Prof Colin Richards respond to an article on exam anxieties, expressing deep concerns about the Sats curriculum for primary school children.
Former Teacher Criticizes English and Maths Curricula
Margaret Ogden, a former primary school teacher, says she was horrified by the English curriculum for 10- and 11-year-olds. She recalls being introduced to the subjunctive at age 18 while studying French, and notes that she never had to understand noun clauses, fronted adverbials, modal verbs, or passive and active changes at that age. She questions who devised the material and doubts that former teachers were involved. The maths curriculum is no better, she adds, as she taught year 9 pupils as a supply teacher without covering some areas now expected of year 6s.
Ogden suggests that educationists with expertise in child development and language teaching were likely consulted, but she suspects that people with no experience of state education have had too much influence. She feels for teachers delivering the syllabus, parents struggling to support their children, and especially the children themselves. She fears her grandson, facing Sats next year, will not cope with the technical grammatical terms. She warns that teachers will leave the profession and children will disengage, citing rising non-attendance and mental health issues. She calls for tactics to bring joy back to education.
Invigilator Offers Hope
Alex Dickie, an invigilator at a comprehensive school in Edinburgh, offers some hope. He has been amazed by efforts to help students who might struggle with exam stress. Children with various needs may receive time alone, a scribe, or extra time. While this may be seen as mollycoddling, it gives a chance to those who were once written off.
Former Inspector Calls Testing 'Institutional Child Abuse'
Prof Colin Richards, a former HM inspector of schools, recalls a Danish colleague describing England's obsession with testing primary-aged children as a form of institutional child abuse. He now realizes it is also mistreatment for parents helping children prepare for exams that do not matter.
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