Hundreds of thousands of ten and eleven-year-olds across the country are due to sit the widely-contested national exams known as SATs this week.
The Key Stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests aim to monitor children’s progress in literacy, numeracy and sciences, but they’ve been the subject of much controversy in recent years.
Parents and teachers argue the testing system is outdated and places too much stress and pressure on children at too young an age.
Concerns peaked last year after Keystage 2 English papers were leaked online and teachers reported the tough new curriculum tests had reduced children to tears.
Others claim standard testing are an important in helping to ensure pupils leave school able to read and write sufficiently.
Debating the matter on BBC Radio 4, former schools minister Nick Gibb said that SATs were a necessary measure of children’s abilities.
When posed with a grammar question from a real test paper, however, he was unable to answer.
