Pupils 'drilled to pass exams are left without key skills'

Primary school pupils struggle with speaking and listening skills because they are so focused on passing written tests, according to Ofsted.

The watchdog warned that so-called "teaching to the test" denies children a broad education and masks weak knowledge among some pupils.

The comments are the latest blow to the Government's education strategy.

Teachers and parents already complain that Sats, the compulsory national tests for 11- and 14-year-olds in maths, English and science, dominate the education system.

Problems with marking this year's tests have left 175,000 teenagers without their grades, and many question if the beleaguered system will produce accurate marks.

Ofsted echoed the long-held concerns of teachers over "teaching to the test" in a letter to the Commons schools select committee. Chief inspector of schools Christine Gilbert wrote: "The best schools can focus on tests and exams without narrowing the curriculum. However, this is not always the case.

"In some schools an emphasis on tests in English, mathematics and science limits the range of work in these subjects in particular year groups as well as more broadly across the curriculum in some primary schools."

She said this was particularly true for 11-and 14-year-olds who take national Sats, but it also applied to GCSE and A-level pupils.

Ms Gilbert said: "In year-six mathematics there are sometimes fewer opportunities than in other years for practical work because of the emphasis given to practising for tests."

Inspectors found that a "narrow focus on meeting examination requirements" meant teenagers could pass maths tests but "are not able to apply their knowledge independently" and were poorly prepared for further study. She highlighted a series of problem areas:

In geography, children in the last year of primary school rarely study the outdoors until after they have completed their Sats.

History has only "a limited place" in the curriculum as primary schools focus on core literacy and numeracy.

Poetry has featured far less in English lessons for pupils taking Sats.

Speaking and listening skills have suffered as teachers focus on written exams.

In maths, some "weaker" teachers drill children in techniques to pass tests while failing to ensure they understand what they are doing.

Ms Gilbert stressed, however, that it was still important to produce "solid evidence" of children's abilities through test and exam results.