Teachers are sick of SATs

UNION officials, from left, Tony Harrison, joint branch secretary, Helen Andrews, NUT executive member, and Bryan Beckingham, joint secretary

THE controversial school statutory assessment tests (SATS) came under attack at the autumn general meeting of the Oldham branch of the National Union of Teachers.

The union wants to see an end to the exams, claiming they should be abolished to give teachers the opportunity to teach, and children the chance to learn.

The threat to jobs and pay and conditions for public sector workers following the general election was also discussed.

Bryan Beckingham, joint branch secretary, said: “Every political party seems to be in competition with each other to see which one is gong to treat public sector employees the toughest.

“It seems we are being made to pay for a crisis in the economy, while those who caused the crisis walk away with golden handshakes or continue to be paid massive bonuses.”