EDUCATIONAL professionals today called on more to be done to ease the strain on young pupils and vary the curriculum.

Youngsters are currently taking Key Stage 3 tests at age 14. In maths children have to deal with probability, simultaneous equations and algebra. While in science they are expected to master the circulatory system, food chains, reactivity series, gold leaf electroscope, or the physics alphabet.

And many feel the pressure of having to pass exams in these subjects at such an early age is putting too much strain on children.

At present, schoolchildren are tested at the ages of seven, 11 and 14 when they come to the end of each key stage. If they continue with their education, they are followed by GCSE, AS levels and A2 - or A level - exams at the age of 16, 17 and 18.

The National Union of Teachers, the largest teaching union, believes the culture of testing has gone too far since it was introduced in 1988, and wants a boycott. It has even staged street protests across the country to drum up support for its campaign.

Simon Jones, Blackburn with Darwen branch secretary, said: "They have created stressful situations for teachers and pupils which distort the curriculum. Teaching is now geared to passing tests and the month so May has been ruined.

"This year's Macbeth question is thought to have been the worst yet."

Dick Greenfield, of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union and Women Teachers, said: "We have become so dominated by the testing that it puts far too much stress on them and is damaging their lives. We have been putting pressure on the government to ease back and will continue to do so."

Head teacher at Audley Junior school Adrian Woods said: "Children do not take it in their stride, they can't. The levels of stress have become unacceptably high and the workload on Year 6 teachers is massive. People do not realise how hard it is to get the levels expected."

Parent Michael Flannery, 43, of Grane Road, Haslingden, said the testing puts too much stress on youngsters as the questions are simply too difficult.

His 11-year-old son Matthew, is in Year 6 at Haslingden Primary School and added: "The work he brings home is astonishing. His behaviour changes when he is being tested. He is totally different."