University Idol

Reading through this article, BBC NEWS | Education | 'Talent search' plan under attack, I can't help but think that primary schools are yet again being asked to put their pupils in the spotlight. As primary/early secondary educators our natural inclination, I believe, is to allow children to flourish free from the pressures that we all know they will be under further along in the academic and professional careers.

The General Secretary of the Association of School & College Leaders, John Dunford:

"Key stage 2 tests should not be used for this purpose [to register children with the National Academy for Gifted & talented Youth]. These are tests for attainment, not potential.

"That is why most secondary schools re-test children on entry at 11 - to establish their potential."

He said it would put yet more pressure on children whose test results were already used to grade their achievement, diagnose their learning problems, pay their teachers and put their schools into league tables.

In our sector we know that children are placed under far more pressure than their peers in maintained schools. So as school leaders we are charged with ensuring a breadth of exprience to offset this. Our children are growing up fast enough without further pressure to perform bing place on their young shoulders.