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Tests "damaging" to school system, say MPs

Tests

The Children, Schools and Families Committee in the House of Commons has published a report which warns against 'misuse of testing'.  Although supporting the concept of testing, the committee feels that teachers spend too much time 'teaching to the test', and that this narrows the curriculum as teachers concentrate only on likely exam content.

The committee, headed by Barry Sheerman MP, also calls for greater clarity over the future of the new dimplomas and the more traditional qualifications, such as A levels and GCSEs.  Amongst those supporting the report's criticisms are Christine Blower, acting General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, and John Dunford, leader of the ASCL headteachers' union.

Read more here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7396623.stm 



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