Welsh Assembly considers abolishing school testing at 11 and 14
Tests in Welsh schools at 11 and 14 years should be abolished, a new report commissioned by the Welsh National Assembly has recommended.
The report, written by Professor Richard Daugherty of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, proposes replacing the Key Stage 2 and 3 tests in schools with a single “skills test” at age 10.
The Welsh Assembly government has not yet adopted the proposals, but Education Minister Jane Davidson has described them as “persuasive” and has undertaken to make a final decision before the start of the summer recess.
Ms Davidson declared, ” This is a progressive report. It makes an important contribution to the advice and evidence I shall need to weigh in making decisions about the future of the assessment regime, and its necessary connection with promoting pupil learning.
“It will deserve the very careful consideration I shall now give it.”
Wales has already abolished Key Stage 1 tests, which take place at age seven.
Professor Daugherty explained, “What the group has tried to do, by reviewing all the evidence we could find and taking the best available advice, is to learn from the experience of the past 10 years.”
“We have concluded that some features of the current arrangements, such as assessment by teachers at the end of each key stage, should be retained but strengthened.
“Other features, such as the core subject tests taken at the same time as teachers are making their assessments, should be phased out.”
