Testing 'deprives primary pupils'

Primary school pupils are tested in their final year

Teaching for tests in maths and English deprives primary school children of a wide range of subjects, a study claims.

Data from 802 of England's primary schools over the past 10 years showed these core subjects were taught at the expense of science, art and humanities.

The Manchester University study found 51% of teaching was solely in maths and English, and blamed government pressure to raise standards in the basics.

The curriculum was balanced to allow a creative approach, the government said.

Dr Bill Boyle of Manchester's school of education said the real issue facing schools was the "huge deprivation of children's exposure to foundation subjects".

'Alarming'

"This unique 10-year data set shows incontrovertibly that teachers are forced to devote more time to teaching maths and English and less time to the other subjects," Dr Boyle said.

"It's scandalous that around 51% of teaching activity is now on two subjects - leaving a paltry 49% for all the others."

This resonated with many current concerns over the take-up of science in secondary schools and higher education, he added.

"Where are we going to find our young scientists if primary education neglects this important area?"

He added: "The core of the problem is the pressure exerted by central government on schools to raise standards in English and maths."

It was always inevitable, he said, that there would be some reduction in foundation subjects in favour of the core subjects being tested.

"But it is the extent of the diminution of the foundation, as evidenced by our data, which is alarming," Dr Bill Boyle added.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "It seems that the curriculum is damned if it does and damned if it doesn't.

"The curriculum is carefully balanced to ensure that pupils can master the crucial basics in English and maths and also enjoy a creative approach to learning."