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Wales Eliminates National Exams for Many Students

Move breaks tradition with England, which inspired U.S. policies.

In the United States in recent years, proponents of test-based accountability have largely won out in shaping school policy against critics who maintain that it narrows the curriculum, devalues teachers’ judgment, and turns off students from learning.

Not in Wales. Since gaining a significant measure of autonomy from England several years ago, the Celtic nation of 3 million has charted a course for its schools that greatly de-emphasizes standardized student assessments.

National exams have been abolished for children through age 14. A new secondary school student qualification there stresses the demonstration of applied learning. Early-childhood education is being refocused...