Testing, SAT's and Exams

share some of the concerns expressed about the number and pressure associated with exams and testing.

However, we must remember where we started from in 1997. At that time 40% of our 11 year olds were not reaching the required level of basic literacy and numeracy. In a modern economy that was a scandal. Having the basics allows the child to develop in so many different ways. In this country we have some of the highest levels of adult illiteracy, and that too was a scandal. Therefore, the government was right to insist on driving up standards as quickly as possible.

By 2002 we saw those improvements. Ministers had set an ambitious target of about 80% successful at 11, but only managed to see about 75%. This was a massive improvement and meant that thousands of children up and down the country benefited.