£700,000 package to help teachers introduce reading and numeracy tests

A £700,000 support package to help schools in introducing new reading and numeracy tests has been welcomed by Swansea East AM, Mike Hedges.

Under plans announced last week by Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, the reading and numeracy tests will replace commercial tests that schools use currently and will be introduced in May. The new package will provide financial support for schools to cover any additional costs relating to invigilation, marking and data entry. This is designed to further mitigate any impact on teacher workload.

Funding will be available over the 2012/13 academic year and allocated in the form of a fixed sum per school, calculated with reference to pupil numbers, and disbursed via a grant to local authorities. Under the terms of the grant, schools will be able to apply funding to suit their own individual circumstances. The additional funding will give schools even greater flexibility in how they choose to deliver the tests.