Year Six spelling tests ‘too obscure’, says Education Secretary

The spelling test for primary school leavers is too “obscure”, the new Education Secretary has claimed.

Lucy Powell suggested that she would consider changing the spelling, punctuation and grammar exams currently taken by Year Six pupils. The Spag tests were introduced by the coalition government in 2013 and are compulsory for Year Six pupils at English state schools.

Last week, The Telegraph unearthed remarks from 2019 in which Ms Powell opposed “draconian” spelling tests for primary school pupils, saying they should instead focus on “creativity”.

Asked whether she stood by her comments, Ms Powell told BBC Radio 5 Live: “Look, spelling’s obviously important, good grammar – I’m sure you want to talk to me about that as well – and spelling.

“I think what I’ve talked about in the past are some aspects of the SATs [standard assessment tests], and the spelling and grammar test in that. It’s particularly obscure in parts, isn’t it?

“I think what we always have to remember with these things, it’s about learning how to communicate in written, in oral and other forms, and not get too drawn into some, you know, kind of specific aspects of grammar.”

The Education Secretary was reminded of her claim that primary school spelling tests were draconian, and was asked whether she still held that view. She responded: “We’ve had this curriculum and assessment review... We’re having a look at a number of recommendations that have been made in there.”

Asked whether that could mean fewer spelling tests, Ms Powell said: “I think I was talking about one specific assessment which is called the Spag test at the end of Key Stage 2. Have you looked at that test recently? Have a look at it, see if you pass it.”

Ms Powell said the purpose of primary-school English qualifications must be ensuring that children could read, write and communicate. She argued that assessments had to fit that model, and not the other way round.

The Spag tests are split into two parts – a 45-minute grammar and punctuation test, which includes about 50 questions – and a 20-word spelling test read aloud by an exam invigilator.

During her time as a Labour backbencher in 2019, Ms Powell – one of Andy Burnham’s closest allies – criticised the “ridiculous” assessments and said they were being used to “micro-manage” children.

She went on to suggest that secondary school pupils in England should not have to do the same “handful of GCSEs” – currently English language, maths and science.

On Tuesday, Ms Powell hinted that students could soon take fewer GCSE exams in line with a review of the national curriculum.

She said: “My daughter’s awaiting her own GCSE results. My daughter did 25 exams in five weeks, and it’s a lot, isn’t it? It’s a lot of pressure.”

Asked whether the number of exams was too high, Ms Powell replied: “Well, the Government’s just had this sort of curriculum and assessment review, which is kind of sitting on my desk at the moment, looking at some of these issues.

“We’re going to look at that and take forward some changes to the curriculum and assessment system so that it is fit for that world of work, and there are some things I think we can look at within that, and I want to take the time to look at that.”

Ms Powell served as leader of the Commons under Sir Keir Starmer but was sacked in September last year when he reshuffled his top team.

Two months later, she was back at his side as Labour’s deputy leader after being elected by the party members following Angela Rayner’s resignation.

Ms Powell studied at the University of Oxford for a year before dropping out of her chemistry degree and transferring to King’s College London, where she completed her studies.

Recalling her time at Oxford, the Education Secretary said it was “sink or swim” and that she was unused to the self-teaching aspect of her course.

“I found myself just in an environment I wasn’t really used to, I was a bit of a duck out of water,” she added. “So I think the combination of those things, I just knew I would be better going somewhere else. And when I arrived at King’s I flourished, I really flourished, and I was sort of taught well, and they really wanted to have me there, so it was the right thing to do.”

Ms Powell went on to suggest that she could reform the student loans system, standing by her previous description of the current framework as “egregious”.

Plan 2 student loans, taken out by students who attended university between 2012 and 2023, have been criticised for the interest rate of up to 3 per cent that is imposed in addition to inflation.

This has been blamed for leaving two-thirds of graduates unable to pay off their balance, with graduates needing to earn at least £66,000 just to keep up with interest payments.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]