Minister blames pupils' bad attitude for 'unexpected patterns' in Sats trials

Disaffected teenagers who didn't take new Sats tests seriously were to blame for poor results in trials, ministers say.

The new system of testing 11 and 14-year-olds was trialled in December, but results showed "unexpected patterns".

Following an investigation, Schools Minister Jim Knight blamed the attitude of the pupils themselves, rather than the education, for the results.

Pupils, especially those who are older, may be "less motivated" to do well in trials, he said, adding that many performed worse in writing tests that primary pupils.

Mr Knight fears that children may be used to questions that "ease them in" - but the new tests did not include a warmup section, he explained in a letter to the Commons children, schools and families committee.

He also said some teachers had entered pupils for the wrong level of tests.

Ministers want the new-look test to replace existing Sats within two years if trials are successful.

The revamped regime gives pupils two chances a year to move up a level in the National Curriculum.

Currently they must wait until they take SATS at the end of a "key stage" to discover which level they are working at.