A study says that students who focus too much on examinations may see effects on their mental and emotional health, BBC reports.
The National Union of Teachers gathered information from 8,000 teachers and with further studies, reported that testing causes stress-related conditions that may affect the students' learning ability.
Majority of teachers interviewed agreed that their pupils became "very stressed/anxious in the time leading up to Sats/public examinations." These national tests are given by the government to determine the students' learning obtained in school.
Young Minds director of campaigns, Lucie Russell said "both pupils and teachers are under a lot of pressure to achieve results in a pressure cooker, exam factory environment."
"Many of the young people Young Minds works with say that they feel completely defined by their grades and that this is very detrimental to their wellbeing and self-esteem," she added.
Teachers stated that students in ages 10 to 11 undergo meltdowns and are discouraged to take more exams when pressured or feel like they did not pass the test.
One teacher shared these series of examinations make her identify students by their performances (below expectation, above expectation, or pupil premium), "rather than as individuals."
Deputy general-secretary of the NUT stated that curriculums becoming like "exam factories" are "damaging children's experience of education," as opposed to the expectation of an enjoyable learning that would leave students with "a thirst for knowledge for the rest of their lives."
"Part of our commitment to social justice is the determination to ensure every child is given an education that allows them realise their potential," said the spokesperson of Department for Education. "That's why we are raising standards with a rigorous new curriculum, world class exams and new accountability system that rewards those schools which help every child to achieve their best."
