NEW Education Secretary Justine Greening has been warned by more than 30 East Lancashire head teachers that the Government’s primary testing regime puts children off learning.

They are among 166 from the county calling on her to rethink the national curriculum for four to 11-years-olds.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Ms Greening has, appointed as Education Secretary in new Prime Minister Theresa May’s first cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, promised to listen to their views.

The heads, who include primary school leaders from Hyndburn, Pendle, Burnley, Ribble Valley, Pendle and Rossendale, have expressed their concern “about the DfE’s focus for the children in our care”.

They said: “We are committed to high expectations and want to provide an inspirational education that engages children and prepares them with the skills for life in the 21st twenty first century.

“The narrow and elevated expectations within the current end of ‘Key Stage’ assessments are inappropriate and are at a level where a higher percentage of children fail.

“Schools need less pressure to meet questionable criteria and greater freedom to adapt their curriculum to the needs of their local communities.

“We want to be able to inspire children to aspire to greater things and are concerned that the current focus turns children off learning at such a young age.

“The parents of pupils in our schools understand that children need to be motivated and engaged to learn effectively and they are clearly saying to us that the current direction in education causes them great concern.

“Finally, we feel that the academisation of schools is a flawed idea and there is no evidence that academies are better than maintained schools. Currently, 95 per cent of maintained schools in Lancashire are already good or outstanding.

“Therefore we are left to wonder why is there a need to break up something which is not broken.”

The Department for Education spokesperson said: “The new Education Secretary has made clear she is keen to listen and reflect on what teachers have to say.

“We know the tests are harder and we are asking more, but we’re doing that because we are committed to ensuring opportunity for all.”

Among the heads signing the letter were Christina Wilkinson of Oswaldtwistle St Andrew’s; Kathryn Ellidge of Nelson St Philip’s; Janet Neale of Rishton Methodist; Kathryn Pym of Langho St Leonard’s; Michelle Dodgson of Barnoldswick CE Primary; Simon Jones of Waterfoot Primary; Emma Gardner of Chatburn CE Primary; Julie Ault of Great Harwood Primary; and Louise Young of Worsthorne Primary.