A boycott of administering SATs for 11-year-olds by school heads would effectively "stop them in their tracks", NAHT General Secretary Mick Brookes has said, as both NAHT and the National Union of Teachers launch consultations with members over a boycott of the tests in maths and English next May.
Consultation papers are being issued this week to relevant members of NAHT asking members three questions: whether the current system of KS2 SATs should be abolished; whether they would support action to refuse to administer the KS2 SATs in 2010; and whether they would support a phased removal of the KS2 SATs.
Consultation papers were going out to members at the same time as the results of an online petition run by NUT calling for the end of Sats revealed that 25,000 people have signed it. The petition urges the Government to abolish national curriculum tests, known as Sats, for seven and 11-year-olds in England.
A full ballot on action will take place early next year if no agreement can be reached with Government.
Mick Brookes said that the tests narrow the curriculum for pupils, and rejected suggestions by the Schools Secretary Ed Balls that teachers should not rehearse children for the tests.
"That is like telling an Olympic high jumper not to practice before the Olympics."
See the following news stories:
25,000 back call to scrap Sats
Teachers vote on SATs boycott
Teachers threaten SATs boycott
