Why are more primary schools under the spotlight for exam cheating?

If pupils do not perform well, it is teachers who will be held to account, while for heads, their job could even be on the line. In this context, says Eleanor Busby, it is unsurprising that staff are ‘over-aiding’ pupils

Do exams at primary level help or hinder? (Getty)

A series of high-profile primary schools have hit the headlines over the past year for cheating during statutory exams – and in many cases, pupils’ results have been annulled following investigations by officials.

Now it has emerged that these cases are part of a growing trend where more and more primary schools are being examined over alleged “maladministration” of the national curriculum tests.

So what is happening? Why are teachers in primary schools resorting to apparently desperate measures? And how are young children being affected by a narrow focus on Sats in some schools?

Parents, teachers and headteachers have spoken out against the tougher tests since their introduction in 2016 as they say the exams have led to a rise in stress and anxiety among younger pupils. And this year, some parents kept their children off school for the tests due to these concerns.

Not only are young children expected to know a lot more for the reformed maths and English exams – including the meaning of a “fronted adverbial” – teachers also have a bigger job on their hands.

And if pupils do not perform well, it is the school staff that will be held to account. For heads, their job could even be on the line. In this context, it is perhaps unsurprising that staff are “over-aiding” pupils.

The transition of primary school pupils whose parents decided to boycott the exams, or those who had their results annulled because of maladministration, to secondary school is likely to be widely unaffected

Earlier this year, a headteacher was banned from the classroom after she told staff that the school would close and they would lose their jobs if they did not secure good results. The school leader also gave inappropriate assistance to pupils in their Sats exams, which led to the results being annulled.

Children who have their results declared invalid will often have teacher assessments passed on to their new secondary school instead. And most schools reassess pupils in year 7 anyway before streaming them in year 8.

It does beg the question whether the high-stakes tests are worth it? After all, the transition of primary school pupils whose parents decided to boycott the exams, or those who had their results annulled because of maladministration, to secondary school is likely to be widely unaffected.

On the other hand, it is important that children are prepared for the tougher content being taught in secondary school. Preparing for and sitting Sats exams could help with this.

Schools standards minister Nick Gibb has previously argued that children should take tests earlier to help them cope with exam-related mental health problems in later life.

However, for the culture to really change for the better, and for schools to become less focused on the year 6 exams, staff need more reassurance from the government that test results will not be the sole way that schools are judged. This would reduce the pressure to perform and probably see a concomitant decline in cheating.