Contentious baseline assessment test continues to implement despite parent’s contention and legal challenges.
Baseline assessment tests
The government has consolidated a new program that puts children ages four and five years of age into a baseline assessment test related to English and Mathematics.
The concept of the baseline test though is quite controversial in nature. Early this year, teachers and parents went on a protest march against the implementation of the test, even went to the full extent of filing a legal challenge, the contention eventually failed.
Fear of being upset
Some parents grow concern over the test, they feel it creates an upset feeling whenever they cannot complete the activities during the test. Yet, according to headteachers, there was no profound proof of this claim. Some pupils even enjoy doing the assessment and see it as a game, some even queue for their turn voluntarily.
Results from their baseline assessment at age four will then be compared to their performance scores by age 11.
The test shows a positive response
According to Simon Kidwell, headteacher of Hartford Manor primary school and local branch secretary for the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT):
The children were not stressed at all. They enjoyed their time during the assessment. I also contacted 300 members for feedback, but nobody mentioned about difficulties on the part of the children.
The issues concerning this baseline assessment are more on the implementing part due to budget restriction. Kidwell estimated the cost on an England wide implementation to be around six million pounds (eight million dollars). This cost will be on top of the Department of Education’s budget of $14 million for developing the test assessment.
The purpose behind the assessment test
According to the NAHT spokesperson:
The measure of progress from the start up till the end of primary school shows a great understanding on the progress made by the student while learning.
There are still those who question the purpose of the test, pressure group More Than Score, protests against a system that cares more about measurement rather than a quality output.
The group emphasizes that the assessment test should not focus on particular subjects like English and Mathematics.
This can create a mindset for children that their focus should only be on those subjects which might make them lose interest in other areas like arts and sciences.
But despite the objections, the Department of Education is still firm in its stand that the assessment poses positive feedback and will continue to push for the implementation of the program all across England.
We are confident that the reception baseline assessment test will lighten the load of schools practicing it
