The Government has “completely forgotten about children”, a frustrated headteacher has told parents.
In an angry message to mums and dads, Andy Blakeley, head of Hopton Primary in Mirfield , has hit out at the latest exams for his pupils, slammed Government policy and mocked the Secretary of State for Education.
In the school’s May 13 newsletter, Mr Blakeley, a long serving head at one of Kirklees’ highest achieving primary schools, questioned the value of the “complicated” SAT examinations.
And he attacked the Government’s “relentless drive” towards higher standards, adding that they “have completely forgotten about children in schools up and down the country.”
Read headteacher Andy Blakley's newsletter rant in full:
Parent Nicola Finch said she thought the letter was “absolutely fantastic” and said her seven-year-old daughter was very worried about the SATs.
She said: “(She) is so worried about passing her SATs and if she doesn’t she thinks she ‘won’t get a good job’, so no one will want to marry her and she won’t have children’.”
SATs hit the headlines last week with a host of high profile people speaking out, saying they were too difficult.
Children’s author Abi Elphinstone, herself a former teacher, admitted she had got just 25% in the Key Stage 2 maths test and only 40% in English.
Parents went on “strike” in some areas, withdrawing their children from school on the day the tests were held.
WATCH below as Children's Laureate Chris Riddel hits out at school tests
Parents from the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign said children as young as six were labelling themselves failures.
Noting that in a recent trial, a group of 18 teachers, academics and MPs struggled to pass the Key Stage 2 SATs, Mr Blakeley said: “...tests are so complicated that many adults would struggle to answer correctly.”
Commenting on the fact that pass rates are adjusted depending on how well children do, he said: “...whether they pass or not, the learning of those children will be the same.”
READ MORE:
READ MORE:
And passing judgment on the Government’s “botched” attempts to reform exams for primary pupils, he said: “I wonder if they have achieved the standard expected of them?”
Noting that the school is “poorly funded” by the current Government, he added: “It is a shame that our educational system is in the hands of politicians of any persuasion.”
Mr Blakeley said the school would also defy Nicky Morgan MP, the Secretary of State for Education, who said schools should not celebrate the end of SATs.
In the newsletter, he said: “I can safely say, in a pleasant way, that I disagree with her 100%.
TRY our SATS quiz below
“At our school we expect the children to work incredibly hard and my view is that the celebration is a thank you to the children.
“I’m sure the Secretary of State’s comments have been met with many comments, some of which made me laugh!”
The Examiner asked Mr Blakeley if he would like to expand on his thoughts but he said he would not.
READ MORE:
Parents said they totally backed Mr Blakeley.
Fran Fisher simply said Mr Blakeley had hit the “nail on the head” while Sarah Tate, said it was “a great letter. Says it exactly as it is.”
Sarah Rowden, said: “He is a great headteacher and has completely turned that school around.”
Karen Wilkinson said: “Parents need to know that the headteacher of any school has their children’s wellbeing at heart. Well done I say for standing up above the parapet.”
