Early-Childhood

SEBDA Press Release


Working Together for Children

20th May 2003

SATs CAUSE STRESS IN YOUNG CHILDREN
Educational Psychologist publishes new research evidence...


New research has just been published in the journal Emotional and
Behavioural Difficulties (Volume 8, Number 2, May 2003), which provides
evidence of stress-related difficulties in young children directly caused by
Standard Attainment Tests (SATs).


The author and researcher is Michael Connor, an educational psychologist,
who works closely with 17 schools in Surrey. Mr Connor interviewed school
staff to identify Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils whose behaviour or
manner had observably changed for the worse and who were showing clear signs
of anxiety / stress during the period leading up to the SATs. He found that
12 children were identified as a cause for concern. Extrapolating this data
would suggest that there would be 220 children showing signs of stress in a
typical county the size of Surrey.


The research also provides case studies of twelve children who experienced
stress as a direct result of the SATs. In one example a Key Stage 1 boy who
had existing emotional and behavioural difficulties of an anxious or
attention-seeking type experienced a marked deterioration in behaviour,
which coincided with the SATs. Mr Connor suggests that this was due to the
threat to his already fragile self-esteem, which reflected in
attention-demanding acts, aggressiveness towards other children, and acts of
self-harm.


A girl in Key Stage 1 reacted negatively and with much anxiety to the change
of routine linked to the onset of testing. She found it hard to switch from
working within a group and in a co-operative style to working separately.
Particular difficulties were noted during the run-up to the tests, with the
staff anxious about the practicality of enabling her to become acclimatized
to a system of working which is quite different to routine infant school
practice.


Editors Notes:

SEBDA is the Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Association and
it is a charity (formerly AWCEBD: charity No. 258730). The main office is
Church House, 1 St. Andrew's View, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 7YF. Tel: (01768)
210 510. Fax: (01768) 210 512. E-mail [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  website www.awcebd.co.uk
<http://www.awcebd.co.uk/>


SEBDA produces a quarterly journal, published by Sage, called Emotional and
Behavioural Difficulties. It is a major peer-reviewed journal, which
provides an international and interdisciplinary forum for research of
practical relevance to all professionals engaged with improving the quality
of life for individuals with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Electronic details of the journal can be accessed at www.sagepub.co.uk
<http://www.sagepub.co.uk/>


Contact Details:

1. Michael Connor (Author and Educational Psychologist) - (01483) 517856,
address for correspondence,  35 Mead Road, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 7BQ.
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>

2. Bernie Folan, SAGE Publications, 6 Bonhill Street, London EC2A 4PU.
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  or 020 7374
0645.

3. Prof. Paul Cooper (Journal Editor) - (0116) 2523751, [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]>  http://www.le.ac.uk/education/staff/PWC5.html
<http://www.le.ac.uk/education/staff/PWC5.html>

4. Mark Turner (SEBDA Education Officer and educational psychologist) 07976
322206, [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>



SEBDA Press Release 2003/101