Actor Anna Maxwell Martin and a group of parents have warned that primary school tests have “devastating effects” for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

They have written an open letter to the government asking ministers to consider reforming SATs (standard assessment tests) to accommodate the youngsters’ needs.

The 22 parent groups say the system is damaging for children with SEND and they want to see a more inclusive approach which incorporates the needs of the individual child.

The letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the current system “actively harms” children with SEND, leaving them often disengaged from school as they move on to secondary school.

Maxwell Martin, who has starred in TV comedy Motherland and police drama Line Of Duty, said: “The government needs to look much harder at how to make things better for children in schools, particularly children with SEND.

“This is a systemic failing within our assessment system, not the fault of any individual teacher or headteacher.”

What has research found?

Research by the SEND parent group said only 24% of SEND children passed the SATs, and 67% of SEND children did not want to attend school because of them.

Half of the parents questioned also said their child’s self-esteem was damaged, and they believed SATs would have a lasting negative impact.

‘Change the system’

The letter to Ms Phillipson said: “Forcing children into a system that actively harms them is not the answer. Changing the system so that our children want to attend is.”

But some think SATs do not serve any child.

Lee Parkinson MBE, a primary school teacher and education consultant from Manchester, said SATs are a negative process for all children, not just children with SEND.

He told Sky News: “SATs don’t serve any child, let alone those with SEND. They were never designed to support learning.”

He called the tests a “blunt accountability tool, a stick to beat schools with, rather than something that helps teachers understand children”.

‘Speed rewarded over understanding’

Mr Parkinson claimed SATs were “built to catch pupils out. They reward speed over understanding and memorisation over genuine thinking”.

“That alone disadvantages huge numbers of children, but for pupils with SEND the gap becomes a chasm. Processing speed, anxiety, sensory needs, working memory difficulties, language disorders… none of these are accounted for in a system that measures every child by the same stopwatch and mark scheme.”

Mr Parkinson added: “For many SEND pupils, success in school looks like communication gains, emotional regulation, confidence, independence and steady academic growth in a way that matches their needs.

“SATs don’t measure any of that. Instead, they label, limit and distort the reality of what progress actually looks like for the children who need thoughtful, personalised provision the most.”

The open letter also said children with SEND who failed SATs “spend their entire year 6 convinced they are not clever enough”.

Read more:
How children with SEND from poorer families left behind
MPs want overhaul of school support for special needs pupils

‘Urgent need for rethink’

Sarah Hannafin, head of policy at school leaders’ union NAHT, said there is an “urgent need” for the government to rethink the value of SATs.

“If statutory tests are here to stay, they must be designed to be accessible for the vast majority of pupils, they should recognise the attainment and progress of all children, and they should not damage children’s confidence or cause distress,” she said.

What does the government say?

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Primary tests and assessments play a vital role in helping schools ensure every pupil can achieve and thrive, while also identifying those who need additional support.”

“The government’s independent, expert-led Curriculum and Assessment Review panel shaped key recommendations aimed at improving our national curriculum, and included key insights from SEND experts.

“We are actively working with parents and experts to improve support for children with SEND, including through more early intervention to prevent needs from escalating and investing £740 million to encourage councils to create more specialist places in mainstream schools.”

Boxer Anthony Joshua is set to mark his comeback to the ring with a surprise heavyweight bout against Jake Paul in Miami.

The former world heavyweight champion and YouTuber-turned-boxer will face off in a match consisting of eight three-minute rounds, with both boxers using 10oz gloves.

The 36-year-old hasn’t fought since September 2024, when he suffered a shock loss to British compatriot Daniel Dubois at Wembley in the fifth round of their IBF world heavyweight title fight.

Joshua, who goes in with a record of 28 wins and four losses, promised the American “no mercy” ahead of his comeback.

“I took some time out, and I’m coming back with a mega show. It’s a big opportunity for me. Whether you like it or not, I’m here to do massive numbers, have big fights and break every record whilst keeping cool, calm and collected,” he said.

“Mark my words, you’ll see a lot more fighters take these opportunities in the future. I’m about to break the internet over Jake Paul’s face.”

If Jake Paul wins, he’ll be in the running for a title, according to his manager, Nakisa Bidarian, chief executive of Most Valuable Promotions.

He said: “For Jake it’s doing the impossible, silencing the doubters and putting himself in a position to be in conversation for a belt, and he gets that if he beats Anthony Joshua.

“And for Joshua it’s pretty simple: he’s been out for quite a bit of time, he comes back and does one of the biggest events in the world, and if he knocks out Jake Paul he will be idolised by many within boxing.”

He continued: “What we’ve accomplished in four years with Jake, with no amateur background, with no Olympic pedigree, makes everyone kind of take a step back and say, ‘What is going on here? How is this possible?’

“It angers people in boxing that we can come in and get as much attention and notoriety as we have, as quickly as we have.”

Paul was due to face Gervonta Davis this month, but the bout was cancelled after a civil lawsuit was filed against the WBA lightweight champion.

The 28-year-old, who has a 12-1 record, last fought at heavyweight when he beat Mike Tyson by unanimous decision in November last year, in what was the then 58-year-old’s first fight in 19 years, before following that up in June with another unanimous decision victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

Read more from Sky News:
Anthony Joshua could return to ring to fight ex-YouTuber
Tyson reveals he ‘almost died’ ahead of fight with Paul

Paul labelled the fight in Miami as “Judgement Day.”

“A professional heavyweight fight against an elite world champion in his prime. When I beat Anthony Joshua, every doubt disappears and no one can deny me the opportunity to fight for a world title.

“To all my haters, this is what you wanted. To the people of the United Kingdom, I am sorry. On Friday, December 19, under the lights in Miami, live globally only on Netflix, the torch gets passed and Britain’s Goliath gets put to sleep.”

The government is reportedly set to ban the resale of tickets for live events above their face value.

Music and sport fans have long complained about live event tickets being quickly bought up only to be immediately relisted at grossly inflated prices.

The process is often carried out using bots – automated apps that repeatedly mimic customers to sweep up large numbers of tickets as soon as they’re released.

The people operating them can be based anywhere in the world.

A government consultation had sought views on a proposed cap of 30% above cost, but The Guardian and Financial Times say ministers are expected to set the resale limit at face value.

Service fees charged will also reportedly be capped.

The government refused to comment when approached by Sky News, but it’s believed an announcement could come on Wednesday.

Labour pledged in their manifesto to put an end to rip-off tickets and repeated the promise when they came to power.

But there has been little word on the policy since, with seven months having gone by since a consultation ended.

Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Sam Fender, Iron Maiden, and Radiohead were among acts who last week urged the government to follow through and “restore faith in the ticketing system”.

The Football Supporters’ Association, some ticketing firms, and groups representing the theatre and music industries also signed the statement.

Ticketmaster parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, said it “fully supports” banning resale above face value and added that it already had such a policy.

Some UK secondary ticketing sites already have a face value cap or limit the mark-up. Others allow prices far in excess of face value.

For example, Viagogo and Stubhub are listing tickets for Radiohead’s Saturday show in London from around £400 for seating and from over £700 for standing.

The official price was £85 for standing and between £75 to £195 for seating (plus fees).

Those prices are almost pocket change compared with some of the amounts quoted earlier this year for the Oasis reunion shows – consumer group Which? found tickets as high as £4,442.

Read more from Sky News:
Anthony Joshua to take on Jake Paul in boxing match
How a field became an illegal waste mountain in just months

StubHub International warned a price cap would “condemn fans to take risks to see their favourite live events”.

“With a price cap on regulated marketplaces, ticket transactions will move to black markets,” said a spokesperson.

“When a regulated market becomes a black market, only bad things happen for consumers. Fraud, fear, and zero recourse.”

Viagogo made similar claims and said regulated price caps has “repeatedly failed fans”.

“In countries like Ireland and Australia fraud rates are nearly four times higher than in the UK as price caps push consumers towards unregulated sites,” said a spokesperson.