National Standards (Gulp!)

I don't know where to start with this one, as there has been so much coverage of this topic in the media in so many forms.......
Personally, I have so may conflicting views and angles on them within myself that I'm sure there's not really anyone who has formed a well rounded, "expert" view on them yet!!
My initial personal thinking tended to sway towards the notion that as long as they keep the student's achievements at the heart of the matter and are used properly to raise student achievement they have the potential be a good thing......
However, therein lies the problem!!! Media bias, the standards being rushed through without sufficient thought process and input from schools, the lack of standards being able to show progress as opposed to levelling against a static level, a general lack of understanding of how these standards work, "league tables" these standards are sure to create in the media, the inevitable fact that some schools will "teach to the standards" which in turn stifles creative and imaginative teachers, all point towards a very slim probability that these standards can be used properly or even effectively! I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.....
So obviously for me, the jury's still out! However the standards are here, we have to be seen to implement them and they're not going away......so no doubt there will be plenty of hours ahead reading, understanding, developing and implementing these standards so they benefit our children most.
Keep watching this space........