Pupils in Year 8 across state schools in England could face mandatory reading tests under plans unveiled by the government to tackle under-achievement among certain groups. The new assessment would mark a significant shift in the education landscape, with compulsory national tests becoming a regular feature of secondary school life.
The proposal seeks to address concerns that secondary schools often fail to provide adequate support for struggling readers, particularly white British children eligible for free school meals. According to government sources, these pupils frequently fall behind due to inadequate reading skills, which in turn hampers their performance in GCSEs.
Education experts have voiced caution over the plan, with some arguing that schools already assess pupils' reading abilities and are concerned that the new tests could become another accountability measure. Pepe Di'Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, warned against creating 'yet another box to tick', while Daniel Kebede, General Secretary of the National Education Union, expressed fears about increased stress and workload for teachers.
The Department for Education has committed to raising standards, stating that reading is fundamental to accessing the curriculum. However, the specifics of the proposal remain unclear, with no official comment from the DfE on the details of the new assessment. The white paper outlining the plans is expected in the near future.
Should the plan be approved, pupils would face mandatory reading tests starting from the 2028-29 academic year, with results published at a national level but not for individual schools. While government sources have reassured that school performance will not trigger direct intervention or early Ofsted inspections, concerns remain about the potential impact on teaching and learning.
Source: Schools Week, Department for Education