By Richard Garner, Education Editor Independent
“The Key Stage Three tests had no negative consequences. We should re-establish the tests – when you make a mistake, rub it out and put it back.”
One delegate, Stuart Merry, from Kirklees, opposed the union’s plan, arguing that scrapping the tests for 11-year-olds would help children “regain their right to childhood”.
“Children, particularly in Years Five and Six at primary school, aren’t receiving the broad and balanced curriculum they’re entitled to.
“There’s little point in having been told how to spell correctly and use complex sentence structure and grammar if you’ve got nothing to say.”
His remarks echoed the reservations of the National Union of Teachers, which claims too much time is spent coaching for the tests so that schools do well in the primary school league tables. The National Association of Head Teachers is also to call for a ballot on the boycott of the tests at its conference early next month.
Mr Balls has set up an “expert group” to review testing and assessment arrangements in schools which is expected to report early next month.
He has indicated a preference for moving towards testing pupils when their teachers believe they are ready, rather than continuing with the testing of all 11-year-olds on the same day.

How do you feel about this do we need yet another “expert group” to tell us what teachers and many parents already know, or is it just a delaying tactic. We need to know when a decision will be taken before we waste another year.