Commenting as the education secretary announces a statutory reading test in secondary school, and a new ambition for 90% attainment in the phonics check in primary, Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said:

“While the government is not wrong to focus on reading, tests and checks are not the best way to drive standards. Great teachers, time and resources are the things that make the difference in improving literacy, not tests.

“The introduction of a statutory reading test in year 8 is unnecessary, distracting and not a good use of money when funding is tight for schools. Pupils already take tests in year 6 – schools have those results and can access detailed question level analysis. Most secondary schools also test at the start of year 7, so they have even more data. Teachers use assessments all the time to check progress, identify areas for support, and act on those. So teachers know which children need support with reading – they don’t need a statutory test to tell them that.

“Equally, one thing we know doesn’t make a difference in improving literacy is the phonics check. There is no evidence that it has had a positive impact on children’s reading development, and it hasn’t helped to close attainment gaps. Simply announcing a new ambition for attainment in the check won’t make it actually happen without more tangible intervention.

“Teachers know which pupils need further support in reading without statutory tests. The money required to implement the reading test in year 8, and the significant savings that could be made by scrapping the phonics check, would be put to much better use spent on resources and support for children’s learning.”