Thousands of primary school students are sitting a controversial test to determine if they are gifted and talented this week — but teachers in at least one school are considering boycotting the exam.

Educators at Port Royal Primary School in Southampton have expressed concerns about the lack of notice they and parents were given about the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test and are expected to write to their principal and the Bermuda Union of Teachers (BUT) to complain.

A parent, who asked not to be named, told The Royal Gazette: “The teachers at the school, they are in the process of putting a formal letter to the principal. Nobody knows anything about it.

“The test is supposed to be on Thursday and [the teachers] are boycotting it. The teachers feel they didn’t know anything about it. They feel they haven’t been communicated with on what’s going on. Parents who have kids in the system have no idea.”

Meanwhile, Education Minister Grant Gibbons expressed surprise at the backlash against the tests, which he said were purely to assess the range of abilities in the classroom [see sidebar].

BUT general secretary Mike Charles said: “I think the office was informed that a letter was coming from the teachers at Port Royal. I haven’t seen the letter.”

He said the Ministry of Education had not formally shared any information about the test with the union, though the BUT was not “particularly miffed” about that “as long as they inform our members”.

Mr Charles said: “It seems that it’s something that not enough thought has gone into. You just don’t impose another test because around this time [of year] there is all kinds of tests going on.

“You don’t just impose another test without talking to principals and teachers. Even parents are questioning another test.”

The Otis-Lennon (also known as OLSAT 8) test measures children’s cognitive abilities by assessing their verbal, non-verbal and quantitative skills, according to the company which publishes it, Pearson Assessments.

In the late 1990s, Otis-Lennon testing was the subject of controversy in New Orleans, where it was used as an admission exam for high schools, with critics complaining it was an IQ test which could be racially discriminatory.

Mr Charles said: “I don’t know if enough people know enough about it [for it] to be controversial. Not much is known about it as far as I can see.”

The Port Royal parent said a letter about the test for pupils in primary two to six (P2 to P6 or ages six to ten) came home from the school last Tuesday, though it did not state when the exam would be held. A later phone call from a teacher revealed the date of the test.

A second letter advised that “auditions” for P4 and P5 children with a passion for visual or performing arts would be held at CedarBridge Academy next week.

Parents had until the following day, April 30, to sign up their child for the drama, dance, music and visual art performances.

The parent said: “All we could do was say yes to the auditions and ask questions later. We were given less than a day’s notice.”

The parent voiced concerns about the suitability of conducting a one-off test to determine talent in primary school pupils and the lack of information about the Ministry’s ultimate goal in conducting the testing.

“What will happen with children who are identified? It’s a huge thing that nobody knows anything about it.”

The two letters received by the parent were sent by Luann Wainwright-Dill, the Ministry’s Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) officer.

Ms Wainwright-Dill wrote that the one-hour Otis Lennon test would assess all P2 to P6 students in the areas of ability, creativity, reasoning, logic and problem solving.

She said students who scored more than 90 percent on the test would qualify for Gifted and Talented Education services and that those scoring more than 85 percent could need specialised instruction in the classroom.

“Additional information on the services offered for academically advanced students will be provided, based upon analysis of all student test date,” said the letter.

The officer said students should have a good night’s sleep and nutritious breakfast before the test, adding that it could be “difficult for young children, especially when they are under stress to perform”.

Mary Lodge, principal at St George’s Preparatory School School, said the test was held yesterday and on Tuesday for her students.

“I think the intent is to get a benchmark for the system and the question from the parents is: then what?” she said, adding that until the number of gifted and talented students was identified, it was impossible to know what the next step would be.

“We don’t know what will come out of it until we know the results. Where do we go from here? We don’t yet.”

Francis Patton principal Garita Coddington confirmed that pupils at her school were due to take the tests this morning.

“I work for the Ministry,” she said. “I support them. At our school, everyone from P2 to P6 will take it.”

Paget Primary principal Trina Cariah confirmed that her pupils took the test yesterday, as did Charles Joynes, headteacher at Northlands.

Elliot Primary principal Kimberly Creighton said the test was scheduled to take place today and there hadn’t been concerns from teachers at her school. “We are prepared to do them,” she said.

A Somerset Primary School parent told this newspaper they only found out about the test when a teacher called on an unrelated matter.

“I know absolutely nothing. I didn’t get a note home. Having now read the letter [shared by this newspaper], I am really concerned.

“As a parent, you feel like you wish to go down to the Ministry of Education and question why you weren’t told. I actually blame the parents a bit too.

“I do think we need to stand up a bit more about this type of thing [but] you become the squeaky wheel, don’t you?”

There are 18 public primary schools in Bermuda with about 2,600 students.

It wasn’t possible to reach all the principals yesterday and several referred us to the Ministry for comment (see sidebar).