England Primary Schools are organizing Easter holiday revision classes for their pupils to get them through standardized SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) exams.
This revision classes for pupils who are as young as six, has, however, been criticized by relevant teaching organizations and also the Department for Education (DfE).
According to the DfE, the teachers should oversee and equip the pupils in other reasonable means, which does not encompass revision during holidays.
Chris Keates, acting general secretary of the NASUWT teachers” union, added that holidays are for pupils to use their free time playing with their friends and spending time with their families rather than being glued to meaningless lessons which may not have any optimistic effect on their educational growth.
Despite this criticism, a primary school in North London has asked its year two pupils to attend its revision sessions by next week, which is the half-term holiday.
The test on maths, literacy, and grammar they will be revising for is scheduled to hold in May.
Also, another primary school in Birmingham is proposing free childcare. At the same time, year two pupils undergo English and Maths revision classes in the mornings with more basic training in the afternoons, such as sports and cooking lessons.
The introduction of holiday classes before the examinations at the end of key stage one shows the increase in holiday revision for year six pupils sitting Sats at the end of key stage two.
Last year, a primary school in London, which is part of the Harris Federation multi-academy trust, held Sats “booster classes” during the February half-term holiday.
Pupils attended these classes in years two, five, and six, and the levels were from 9 am to 3 pm.
Also, a primary school in London told parents that the school would provide morning and afternoon sessions for invited pupils on school days as well as “Easter school” over the holidays.
They held hour-long workshops for parents with pupils in year two to talk about how they can support their children in mathematics, reading, and writing, all in preparation for Sats.
Primary school tests to end in 2023
Earlier, the DfE had noted that tests would stop being mandatory as of 2023.
This motion was favored by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which represents many primary school leaders.
James Bowen, director of policy at the NAHT, noted that Sats at the end of year two needs to be canceled because now, schools are obliged to organize revision classes during the holidays for stage one pupils.
Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, also added that so far, the fate of a school relies on its Sats scores, the pressure will continue to be on the pupils.
High rating for some schools
The Ofsted website states that 88 schools currently have ‘outstanding’ or ‘good’ status, but the majority of these ratings were handed out in previous years. The headteacher of one of the school expressed their joy with the announcement.
She said:
We are delighted with the outcome. When I walked out of the meeting with the Ofsted inspectors, and we found out the judgment, the whole staff room erupted in joy.
