Tories try to rubbish school children's SATS efforts

5.15.58pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 9th Sep 2008

Work on this year's SATS tests in schools should be torn up and thrown away, according to Conservatives at Essex County Council. Earlier today the Conservative group presented a motion to annul the results at a meeting of the full council, but were embarrassed into withdrawing the offending words after criticism by the Liberal Democrat group.

Condemning the motion, Cllr Tom Smith-Hughes, Liberal Democrats leader, said: "I am astonished at the crass insensitivity shown by the Conservatives towards the hard work done by children, their teachers, and parents this year. About four months have been spent in schools, preparing for and taking SATS tests, in good faith that their work would be part of their overall year assessment. To even suggest that this has been a waste of their time is unforgiveable.

"Liberal Democrats have been saying for many years that there is over-testing in schools generally and we welcome the government's proposals for less tests in the future. We particularly advocate more individual child assessments carried out by the teachers who know them best.

"The Conservatives have shown consistent lack of political leadership on education, with six cabinet members in charge over the past three years and various policy u-turns. It is very disappointing that they have sought to choose to play political football with children's efforts in schools. It appears that no publicity opportunity is off limits for the Tories."