Nick Gibb MP
Minister of State for Schools
Department for Education
Sanctury Buildings
Great Smith Street
SW1P 3BT


24 May 2010


Dear Nick,

SATs tests and league tables

I am writing further to emails I have received from constituents expressing concern about SATs and league tables in schools.

I have long backed the abolition of external SATS exams and also agree with my constituents that that league tables in their current form are unhelpful. League tables give an over-inflated impression of schools with a higher ability intake and this in turn can contribute towards problems with admissions.

I share the view of the constituents who have contacted me that a combination of self assessment, sampling and teacher assessment is the best way to ensure children progress educationally. There is currently too much emphasis on national tests and fulfilling marking schemes. This puts unnecessary pressure on children and means teaching and learning are too often dominated by meeting targets and ticking boxes (both for teachers and pupils).

I should be grateful for your response to the points I have raised, which I will pass on to the constituents who have contacted me on this issue.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

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