LETTER - one in four primary pupils fail tests (20/08/03)

Dear Sir,

This week, it was revealed that one in four primary pupils fail tests for reading and maths.

The cost of these tests has risen by £90 million since Labour came to power. Despite millions of pounds being pumped into a campaign to improve results, the numbers reaching the required standard remain the same. In many areas of the country, maths standards have actually fallen.

The Government has now missed their own targets two years running. David Blunkett offered to resign as Education Secretary if he missed them. It was a factor in the resignation of Estelle Morris.

Perhaps now the Government will admit they are failing to improve the education of our children. We might hope they will listen to teachers who say that teaching towards tests stifles a child's ability to learn creatively.

But once again they do not listen and they have not learnt. The Department for Education has signed an agreement to hit the targets or face a loss of revenue.