Teacher and Author calls for an end to school spelling tests following talk on late dyslexia diagnosis

Author and primary school teacher Dan Batchelor has called for an end to traditional school spelling tests, arguing they do more harm than good for children with learning differences.

Speaking at the Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC) at Olympia London over the weekend (November 15–16), Batchelor opened up about his late dyslexia diagnosis at 17 and the profound impact it had on his confidence.

During his session, Batchelor, whose debut novel Jack Palmer: A New Order has won praise for its blend of thrilling storytelling and emotional depth, spoke candidly about growing up undiagnosed: “I found it impossible not to compare myself against others. I was trying hard, but things just didn’t click. It impacted both my confidence and my self-esteem. An early diagnosis would have helped me massively in how I felt about myself.”

He explained that discovering he was dyslexic transformed his perspective: “Knowledge is power. I realised it wasn’t a lack of effort or intelligence, it’s just a learning difference. Dyslexia doesn’t mean you can’t learn, it just means you learn differently. It can even be a strength, many dyslexic people are incredibly creative thinkers, strong visual learners, and great problem-solvers.”

Batchelor recounted how his diagnosis came about unexpectedly during a college media class: “I was reading aloud and kept tripping over the words, my teacher asked me to stay behind and said, ‘I think you might be dyslexic.’ A month later, it was confirmed. Suddenly, everything made sense.”

Growing up, Batchelor says he dreaded weekly spelling tests and being asked to read aloud. Having an identical twin brother who was an excellent speller only heightened those feelings of not being good enough: “I always felt like the stupid one,” he said. “It’s impossible not to be compared and compare yourself to the people around you, even more so when you’re an identical twin!”

Now, as a teacher himself, Batchelor believes spelling tests should be a thing of the past: “With weekly tests that build up to a spelling test within Year 6 SATs, there’s still so much pressure from a young age to be good at spelling. If it’s something you find difficult, it’s very easy to feel stupid. My first question is always: why does it matter so much? In today’s world there’s so much support available. Spelling is not a sign of intelligence, and it certainly isn’t a sign of creativity so why put barriers in front of a six-year-old? We only risk damaging self-esteem and putting children off reading. Rather than putting up obstacles we should be removing barriers to learning with tools that aren't always available such as typing or voice typing. I truly believe if children have the tools needed to succeed and a better understanding of themselves they can achieve anything.”

Batchelor called for a shift in the approach to literacy and support for students with learning differences: “An early diagnosis would have massively helped my confidence and the way I perceived myself. There needs to be a systematic change. I believe an emphasis should be taken off spelling and more on reading and creative writing.” He is also passionate about the effect it can have on children’s mental health and the effect it can have on the stress and pressure children put on themselves, “Thankfully, there is a noticeable focus on children's wellbeing within schools, which is essential within an increasingly difficult world to navigate. Yet, with spelling tests, we seem to be stuck in the past.” Batchelor believes the change needs to come from the top and understands the difficult situation schools are in, “All the time children's outcomes are judged against spelling schools are in a no win situation. If there is going to be a test and schools don't practice we are setting children and schools up for failure.”

Despite his challenges, Batchelor’s story has come full circle. His debut novel Jack Palmer: A New Order, now available through Waterstones and Amazon and boasting a 4.3-star rating on Goodreads, has been celebrated by readers and colleagues alike.

“Writing a book was never something I thought I could do,” Batchelor admitted. “I had an idea I genuinely thought was interesting and unique, and the only thing stopping me was me. With the support of my family and my editors at Cranthorpe Millner, I’ve created something I’m really proud of. Dyslexia wasn’t the barrier, my perception of what a writer should be was. I hope my story inspires others to give it a go.”

Through his teaching and writing, Dan Batchelor is determined to challenge misconceptions about dyslexia and redefine what success looks like for children who learn differently.

Jack Palmer: A New Order is available now in Waterstones stores and on Amazon.