ABSTRACT

There is growing concern about the mental wellbeing of young people, including how this is related to national tests. This is a particularly important policy issue in England, where it is claimed that the end of primary Key Stage 2 tests cause schools, pupils and teachers stress. I investigate this issue using data from the Millennium Cohort Study, comparing the wellbeing of pupils in England (measured around the point they are sitting their Key Stage 2 tests) to the rest of the UK (where Key Stage 2 tests are not taken). No evidence is found that the Key Stage 2 tests in England is associated with lower levels of happiness, enjoyment of school, self-esteem or children’s mental wellbeing. Likewise, no evidence is found that children who are happier, more self-confident or with higher levels of wellbeing obtain higher Key Stage 2 test scores.

摘要

人们越来越关注年轻人的心理健康，包括这与国家测试的关系。这在英格兰是一个特别重要的政策问题，据称小学 Key Stage 2 考试的结束会给学校、学生和教师带来压力。我使用来自千禧年队列研究的数据来调查这个问题，将英格兰学生的幸福感（在他们参加关键阶段 2 测试的时间点测量）与英国其他地区（未进行关键阶段 2 测试的地方）进行比较。没有证据表明英格兰的关键阶段 2 测试与较低水平的幸福感、学校享受、自尊或儿童的心理健康有关。同样，没有证据表明更快乐、更自信或幸福感更高的孩子获得更高的关键阶段 2 测试分数。