We are aware that many parents are
discussing the forthcoming protest on Tuesday 3 May against the Key Stage 1 and
2 SAT tests and seeking more information or guidance over what they should do.
Who
is coordinating the protest?
The protest on 3 May has been
coordinated by parents groups, most notably the campaign group Let Kids Be
Kids.
What
is the protest about?
The action on 3 May is in response to
the government’ growing obsession with early and harder testing. OCOS
supporters have written on this blog about their anger at the Year 2 SATs, and
the new, harder Year 6 SAT tests. Many of these tests will take place during
the week beginning 3 May.
What
is actually happening on 3 May?
Let Kids Be Kids are encouraging
parents to withdraw their children from school on Tuesday 3 May for a day of
‘fun learning’ as a national protest against the SATs. They are quite clear
that this is not a boycott as the tests do not all take place on the same
day. It is instead a practical protest action that can be taken by parents to
register their dissent from the test-driven education being forced on schools
and teachers by the government.
Is
it just parents of Y2 or Y6 kids who are participating?
The day of action is not confined to
just those with children sitting year 2 or Year 6 SATs, it is a day on which
parents can use withdrawal from school to show solidarity and register their
anger, not at schools or teachers but at the government.
Won’t
this hurt the schools?
These protests are intended to
support schools and teachers and are supported by teaching unions. The aim is
to put pressure on government to stop piling more demands on our children,
teachers and schools.
What
is the OCOS position on the protest?
OCOS supports this day of action.
We are also aware that this is a
campaign at an early stage. As a consequence, many parents are only just
becoming aware of it now and many more may not know about the day of action. Working
parents may not be able to take the time off work. Some may not yet feel
confident to take this action and may have unanswered questions about how their
school will respond and whether they will be fined for an unauthorised absence.
In this case, we would ask that those
of you who support the aims of the campaign send in a letter of support for the
day of action. We have set out suggested text below:
TEMPLATE
LETTER
Dear
[Headteacher]
I
am/We are writing to express support for the national day of protest against
the Key Stage 1 and 2 SAT tests. This day of action is not aimed at schools or
teachers. We know how hard you work for our children every day. Instead this
action is intended to send a message to the government that parents do not
support their policy of early and harder testing for children in primary
schools.
I
am/we are unable to withdraw my child for this day of action so they will be
attending today / My child will be attending school today.
However,
I/we support the aims of the day of action and reserve the right to withdraw
my/our child from school in support of future days of action.
I
would request that a copy of this letter is forwarded to the Board of Governors
of the school and reported it its next meeting.
Yours
sincerely,
I
want to support the action by taking my child out of school for the day. How
should I notify the school?
Any parents who wish to withdraw
their children on that day can find a series of template letters they can use
here.
