The government has bowed to pressure and – unusually – to evidence, and has dropped this year’s controversial baseline tests on the grounds that problems of comparability between the three approved versions of baseline assessment would have made them ‘inappropriate and unfair to schools’ as a basis for measuring pupil progress. However, DfE says that it remains committed to baseline assessment of some sort.
CPRT supported the Better Without Baseline campaign in February and last month followed up with a closely-argued blog about the problems of baseline assessment from Nancy Stewart of TACTYC, a leading early years organisation.
It remains to be seen whether DfE will now review other policies that are ‘inappropriate and unfair to schools’. Perhaps, if it does so, it could extend to children its examination of what is appropriate and fair.
Robin Alexander