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At the National Education Union’s annual conference in Brighton, teachers voted against the government’s plan to introduce a compulsory reading test for Year 8 students in England. The government intends to implement these tests before the current parliamentary term ends in 2029. While the Department for Education (DfE) emphasizes the importance of assessments in identifying pupils who need additional support, the teaching community has expressed significant concerns.
Daniel Kebede, the general secretary of the NEU, acknowledged the importance of addressing declining reading standards but argued that mandatory testing could actually undermine this goal. NEU member Holly Williams pointed out that adding more tests, especially at a stage where students are developing confidence, could increase pressure and reduce both the breadth of the curriculum and teacher autonomy. She stressed that a test alone wouldn’t foster a genuine love of reading among children. Additional worries were voiced about the frequency of national assessments and the potential negative impact on students, particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The proposed changes would result in most pupils in England taking national assessments during seven distinct years of their education: starting from Reception, through to Year 1 (phonics screening), Year 4 (times tables check), Year 6 (Key Stage 2 SATs), Year 8 (the new reading test), Year 11 (GCSEs), and Year 13 (A-levels and equivalents). Alongside opposing the tests, members voted to survey secondary school educators on the possibility of boycotting the new assessments. The union also called for enhanced funding for school libraries.
Responding to the passing of the motion, Kebede argued that a mandatory Year 8 test would detract from teaching a broad and rich curriculum, urging the government to reconsider the proposals. Meanwhile, a DfE spokesperson emphasized the need for the test to support children who begin secondary school without essential skills, particularly white working-class children and those with SEND. The test is intended to ensure these students receive necessary help before GCSEs. Announced initially in autumn 2025, the Year 8 assessment will measure reading fluency and comprehension. While its results will be accessible to the DfE and Ofsted, they will not be published at the individual school level. Despite this, teaching unions remain concerned about potential future uses of the data as a performance measure. These developments take place against a backdrop of concerns that a significant proportion of Year 6 pupils are below expected reading standards and that pass rates in English GCSEs have declined. This year also marks the national year of reading, a campaign aimed at encouraging more people to make reading a regular habit amid ongoing discussions about screen time and proposals for a social media ban for under-16s
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