The current Sat exams involves writing composition, but not everyone agreed this was a good way to check children’s literacy levels. The changes are part of a review of how the current primary system has been working for around 600,000 children in England. Changes are being made to Sat tests in reading, maths and science and will probably be brought in next year. The changes could also mean swapping pen and paper for online testing. The results will still be used in ‘league tables’ which parents use to check how well a school is doing compared to others. But there is less chance of children ‘escaping’ the new test. Anyone who is ill on test day will be able to sit it again, which they can’t do at the moment.

Vote on our poll at www.firstnews.co.uk/polls to tell us what YOU think!