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The 12-page reading test, featuring three substantial texts followed by 38 questions to be answered in an hour, was sat last week by 10- and 11-year-old pupils in year 6 in England, and was widely criticised by teachers and parents, who complained it was too difficult. Even children who excelled in practice papers were unable to finish the test.
The paper was published yesterday "due to public interest".
"Utterly miserable, scary and quite middle class," was the verdict of Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, the headteacher of Anderton Park primary school in Birmingham. "Most of my kids, English is not their first language, but they're strong readers. They devour books, and yet this is how they will be judged," she said.
This story is from the May 19, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the May 19, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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