UNION chiefs are calling for a boycott of next year’s SATs amid claims they are age inappropriate and could increase children’s anxiety levels.

A “stop the SATs” petition has also been launched by headteachers calling for an “urgent review and reform” of assessment at Key Stage One and two.

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The petition states there is now “widespread concern amongst teachers, parents and education experts over the effect they are having on children, teachers and schools”.

Both the NAHT union for school leaders and the National Union of Teachers have outlined plans to hold an indicative ballot this month with a view to holding a full ballot next year.

Simon Jones, Lancashire representative for the NUT, said: “We are doing an indicative ballot to ask whether they would be prepared to boycott the SATs next year.

“Last year’s SATs were the worst ever. They have been the poison at the heart of the education system and it is definitely time for them to go. They have been a disaster.”

He said teachers believe the tests are “age inappropriate”, switch children off from learning and increase their anxiety levels.

Figures from last year show results fell by 30 per cent across the country with the tests involving year two and six pupils sitting harder tests with a more rigorous marking procedure.

Last year Worsthorne Primary School headteacher Louise Young also gathered signatures calling for the marking system to be changed.

At the time she said the changes had been brought in too quickly and year six students were “subjected to the most challenging tests I have witnessed in my career”.

Retired headteacher Mark Standen, who ran Holy Trinity CE Primary School in Darwen, said last year’s tests were “diabolical”.

He said: “We are putting our children under a magnitude of stress. We are testing them younger and younger.

“The problem with our government is they keep looking to other countries and think they are doing better than us. He said it was time to let “children be children”.The SATs are a snapshot of one day, not the full 360 degree picture of what a child can do.” I just think they are cruel and unnecessary.”

John Girdley, NASUWT representative for Lancashire, said the union is not planning to ballot, but said: “As far as I am aware they are a very flawed set of tests particularly the key stage two Some are ridiculously hard. One of our teachers thought they were not skilled to teach them.”

David Borland, chair of governors at Whalley CE Primary School, said at the moment the school was not planning to boycott the tests.

“Obviously these things are always under review and we listen to both sides - the government and the unions.

“The general view in education is that the bar has been raised and there is more expectation on children’s progress which in itself is not a bad thing, but at the moment education is in a state of flux and it is difficult to say where it will end up.”

The government’s education committee is currently carrying out an inquiry into primary assessment.