13th October 2009

No More SATs: The Joint NUT and NAHT Campaign Against SATs

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The NUT's National Executive has decided to hold an indicative ballot while the NAHT carry out a survey of their members, with a view to carrying out a full ballot in the new year. We urge you to respond to the ballot, and to vote YES, so that the Union has a clear picture of members support for the action. Let's take this opportunity to get rid of SATs once and for all. The secretaries of The NUT and National Association of Headteachers are planning to send the following letter to all members of the NUT and NAHT in Primary School Leicester and Leicestershire:

Dear Colleagues

We are writing on behalf of the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) in Leicestershire and the City of Leicester, to urge you to vote 'yes' in the votes taking place later this term.

Both our unions are committed to ridding primary schools of this 'high stakes' testing regime that distorts the curriculum and seriously damages our children's education. We are very serious about this opposition, and it is vital that the Government also understands the depth of feeling of our organisations on this crucial issue.

Our national campaign continues to use all methods available to try to persuade the Government of the value of our arguments and the mounting evidence against these pernicious tests, but it is also vital that we secure a 'yes' vote to keep up the pressure and prevent the Government from arguing that we do not have the support of our members.

You should already have seen the 'Time To Teach' material, and this letter should be read alongside that material.

All those supporting this letter are united in their opposition to SATs. You can help our campaign by voting 'yes' in the upcoming votes.

We have also enclosed a model resolution for your Governing Body to consider, and we would encourage all Heads and Teacher Governors to support the adoption of this at the next meeting of your school's Governing Body. (This model resolution van be found on our website.)

We know that a united campaign by the NAHT and the NUT is feared by the Government. Your vote will make this campaign stronger. Together, we can win and make sure that the education of future generations is not blighted by SATs. VOTE 'YES'.

Yours faithfully
Jo Lovell, Secretary, Leicestershire NAHT
Jane Rudon & Ian Leaver,
Joint Secretaries, City of Leicester NUT
Andy Reeve,
Secretary, Leicestershire NUT

We currently await agreement from the NAHT over the precise wording of this letter.


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