Teaching Union Votes Against New Year 8 Reading Test

Education professionals have rejected proposals for a new mandatory reading assessment for Year 8 students in England, as revealed at the National Education Union’s annual conference in Brighton. The Department for Education (DfE) plans to roll out the tests by the end of the current parliamentary term, 2029. The government argues that such evaluations are essential for identifying students needing additional support, ensuring no child is left behind in their academic development.

Despite this, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, praised the focus on improving reading standards but warned that the test could “undermine the very aim it seeks to achieve.” He emphasized that compulsory assessments might shift attention from a diverse and enriching curriculum, urging the government to “urgently rethink these proposals.”

“More testing is not the solution,” stated Holly Williams, a NEU member from Kent. “Introducing a Year 8 reading test would heighten pressure on students during a critical phase of their education, when building confidence is most important. It could also narrow the curriculum and reduce teacher independence.”

Other union representatives expressed worries that frequent testing might amplify stress and anxiety among students, especially those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They highlighted that the proposed changes would mean most pupils in England take national exams over seven years of schooling. A key amendment passed at the conference called for surveys of secondary teachers to gauge willingness to boycott the tests and requested additional funding for school libraries.

“Too many children start secondary school without the necessary reading skills,” said a DfE spokesperson. “This test aims to support those at risk of falling behind, particularly white-working-class students and those with SEND, to help them stay on track for GCSEs.”

The initiative was first announced in autumn 2025, with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stating that it would prevent students from “slipping through the cracks.” However, unions cautioned that using test data as a benchmark for schools could lead to unintended consequences, even though the government said it would not publish results for individual institutions.

Recent data shows a quarter of Year 6 pupils are not meeting reading benchmarks, and the English GCSE pass rate has declined. This year marks the national year of reading, a UK-wide campaign to encourage regular reading habits, coinciding with ongoing discussions about screen time and potential social media restrictions for under-16s.