Kingston author backs campaign to phase out Sats tests

10:27am Sunday 11th May 2008

Kingston author Jacqueline Wilson has added her name to a campaign to eradicate Sats tests.

The National Association of Head Teachers is putting pressure on the government to make this year's national curriculum tests, which start for thousands of 11-year-olds tomorrow, the last.

They say it puts children under too much pressure and schools become preoccupied with league table results.

Ms Wilson, along with children's writer Philip Pullman, author of the Dark Materials trilogy and children's laureate Michael Rosen, have welcomed the campaign.

Ms Wilson lives in Kingston and was made a Dame in January's New Year Honours List.

She told the Independent on Sunday: "Frequently I get letters from 10-and-11-year-olds who are taking Sats tests and they are saying things like, Help, what should I do?'"

Mr Pullman added: "I've long maintained that Sats and the league tables they support only distort teaching and don't produce a good and balanced education."