Bristol primary schools improve upon teach-to-the-test SATs results again

Bristol primary schools continue to show improvement but without the results of 21 schools which boycotted the 2010 Key Stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests (SATS).

The results of the tests for children aged ten and eleven years of age found English was up to 79 per cent from 72 per cent in 2007.

And, maths was also up to 79 per cent from 69 per cent in 2007.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Councillor Clare Campion-Smith, said: “In Bristol, during the last five years we have seen a clear upward trend in results for children leaving primary school and this progress has been consolidated this year. High quality, focussed teaching, with clear tracking of the progress of individual pupils and extra support when needed, is securing sustained improvement.”

But SATs are commonly criticised for schools teaching to the tests at the risk of a broader curriculum and the dropping of children working at a lower ability.

Children also report finding pressure from schools and parents placed upon them to do well.