Union fear over school tests controversy

Britain's largest teaching union is urging members not to plug the gap during the SATs boycott.

The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have voted not to administer next week’s national English and maths tests.

But the NASUWT union is concerned that some schools are asking its members to take responsibility for the SATs or replacement tests.

It also claims that some head teachers are planning to be “absent”, leaving their deputy to make the decision about whether SATs go ahead in their school.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: “The NASUWT respects the right of any union to make a decision, through a lawful ballot, to take industrial action.

“However, headteachers who decide to take action must do so on the basis that they accept the consequences of the SATs not going ahead.

“It is unethical to expect or instruct the staff they manage to plug the gap.

“Governing bodies should be warned that where our members are asked or put under pressure to undertake additional work in the light of a head teacher boycotting the SATs, there is a real possibility of the school facing a formal dispute with the NASUWT.”