Fury over 'more tests' at 14

Plans to extend tests for 14 year olds to all subjects have been criticised by teachers' representatives.

Education Secretary Charles Clarke wants to introduce a certificate to measure pupils' capabilities in all subjects before they decide which ones to drop at GCSE level, according to reports.

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) described the move as "accountability gone mad", saying it would increase the workload for teachers and not help children.

Pupils can choose to abandon subjects such as history, geography and foreign languages at 14 with no record of their achievement in those areas.

'Not ambitious enough'

Mr Clarke told The Times that greater freedom for 14 year olds to choose which subjects they continue to study - due to be introduced next year - increased the need for a formal measure of their knowledge and ability.

SCHOOL TESTS Details of testing across the UK

At the moment, they are only tested in English, maths and science, with plans to add information and communications technology (ICT) next year.

If the results of across-the-board tests at 14 were made available to parents, there would be greater pressure on schools to improve standards between ages 11 and 14, the newspaper reported.

Shadow education secretary Damian Green said: "This seems a rather half-baked idea to produce in isolation.

"Does Charles Clarke intend to abolish or downgrade GCSEs? Or does he want another full set of exams to add to the current schedule?"

Mr Clarke said: "We are not ambitious enough at 14. Subjects like modern foreign languages and ICT ought to be pretty much nailed down by then, so that by the time you go past 14 you should be able to explore more widely according to your own interests."

But John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said: "This is exactly what we don't need. Pupils in England are already the most examined in the world.

"Charles Clarke should be seeking ways of reducing the external examination load."

John Bangs, head of education at the NUT, added: "The idea of extending a flawed testing system across the national curriculum for 14 year olds is accountability gone mad.

"If implemented, it will add to an existing excessive workload for teachers to no purpose. Teachers report results in all curriculum subjects."

He said: "It sounds like a headline-grabber without any thought for the reality of schools who have too few teachers, teachers who are overworked and teachers being made redundant."

David Hart, general secretary of the National Head Teachers' Association, said: "There is a strong case for a more rigorous testing at age 14, but only if GCSE is abolished.

"To keep GCSE would mean an unacceptable increase in the amount of testing and examinations at the precise moment when they should be reduced."

A Department for Education and Skills spokeswoman said: "We want pupils to have much more choice and flexibility about what they study between 14 and 19. What they study should be tailored to them.

"But this means they have to be clear that what they know at 14, so they can exercise choice properly.

"The truth is many schools already test and assess pupils at 14 across a range of subjects.

"We have no plans to introduce further statutory tests at that age, but we are debating the issue."