£100 for your results

The TES reports that selected primary heads are being offered £100 to report what scores their 8 to 10-year-olds achieved in the optional end of year tests. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) said it was collecting the results from years 3, 4 and 5 to check how pupils are doing in the years they do not sit national tests.

But the National Association of Head Teachers is concerned that the information may be used to compile league tables - a claim the agency has denied. Mick Brookes, the association's general secretary, said, "Our strong advice to schools is not to do it because we have no trust in the use of this data... We are concerned that this could lead into constructing league tables for every year group. We can't allow that to happen... There is also the isssue of the imposition of bureaucracy. Is it something that's going to benefit the school? If not, then don't do it."