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:
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‘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.”

Kemi Badenoch has said she does not want to scrap the triple lock “now” but said “lets see mess Labour leaves for us”.

The Tory leader told Sky News that the triple lock was a Conservative idea and that it was right to protect people who had contributed to the welfare system.

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The triple lock means the state pension must rise by whichever is highest of either average earnings, inflation or 2.5%.

However, she said she would not say she would “never” reform it or explicitly rule it out for the next parliament.

In April, the government stated that 55% of social security expenditure in 2025-26 would be spent on pensioners.

The Office for Budget Responsibility says the triple lock has pushed up the spending on the state pension by £12bn a year, compared to if it had been uprated in line with average earnings.

The problem with the triple lock, Ms Badenoch suggested, was low growth – with 0.1% in the UK.

She suggested it was also the reason why Argentinian President Javier Milei – whom she has praised as “fantastic” and “fearless” – could block pensioner entitlement rises is because they are growing at 6%.

“If we were growing a 2% to 3%, you wouldn’t have a problem with pensions,” she explained.

“Argentina is growing at 6%. What we’re seeing right now is growth at 0.1%. Growth is flatlining. We need to start with getting growth.”

But asked whether the Tories would “never” look at reforming the policy, she said: “That moment is not now. And I don’t want people to be confused about what our policy is right now. Our policy is to keep the triple lock. Let us focus on welfare, that is the picture of what we mean by right now.”

Asked how long that would be her position for, Ms Badenoch replied: “Well, let’s see what this budget leaves. Let’s see what mess Reeves leaves for us.”

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The triple lock is the cause of much debate, given the economic climate, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also saying its future depended on the state of the economy.

Asked by political correspondent Tamara Cohen whether a potential Reform government would keep the triple lock, Mr Farage said the matter was one of “open debate” and that keeping the triple lock would depend “on the state of the economy”.

Pressed on when he would make a decision because pensioners were becoming concerned, he said: “Not now. Nearer the election.”

He added: “Right now they’re getting above inflation increases.

“That doesn’t mean they’re wealthy. The real worry for many pensioners will be even with modest pensions, this budget could drag them all into the tax system. That’ll worry them even more.”

Nigel Farage gave a press conference on Tuesday, highlighting £25bn of savings he claims Rachel Reeves can make in her budget – including slashing overseas aid and welfare for foreign citizens.

But he said the areas where the local councils are now run by Reform are experiencing “massive problems” with their finances and may have to raise council tax.

The Reform leader claimed that when campaigning in the local elections in May, he “did not make a single promise – not a single promise in that election campaign that we’d be able to freeze or cut council tax”.

“I never said it once. And you know why? Because I realised the massive debts that we were inheriting from those county councils.”

Read more: What taxes could go up now?

A turquoise tide saw Reform gain control of 10 councils and win some 600 local councillors.

Farage promised a “DOGE” unit, inspired by Elon Musk’s initiative in the US, to slash waste.

But most councils have indicated they will have to raise council tax, as they grapple with budget shortfalls and the pressures of adult social care.

I asked him why voters should believe he could easily find spending to slash in national government, if the record in local councils was anything to go by.

Mr Farage said: “There is a massive problem and this is going to need the national government to work with the local government to reduce those burdens.

“Are we determined to make changes? Yes. Will we cut debt? Yes. But can we give people a free ticket at this moment in time on council tax? No.”

Kent County Council – where a leaked phone call exposing tensions about budgets led to councillors being suspended – is expected to raise council tax by the maximum of 4.99% next year.

Durham County Council is reported to be looking at raising parking charges.

Farage added later in the press conference that he hoped councils would keep their rises to the level of inflation, 3.8% in September.