A landmark longitudinal study, Children’s School Lives, undertaken by UCD’s school of education, is following 4,000 children across almost 200 schools. Photograph: iStockMore than one in four principals say schools feel pressure from parents to raise children’s standardised test scores, with levels of stress and anxiety especially evident in more middle-class schools. Standardised tests – used to measure children’s progress in reading and maths – are mandatory at primary school in second, fourth and sixth class. There was widespread agreement across parents, teachers and principals that standardised tests were only one component to assess children’s learning. These preferences and positive attitudes declined as children progressed through primary school as children showed more resistance towards homework.

Source: The Irish Times December 11, 2023 19:41 UTC