A YORK mum who opposes controversial SATs tests for young children has backed teachers’ plans to boycott them next year.

Teachers at the National Union of Teacher’s (NUT) conference last weekend backed a motion to have a ballot to scrap the tests.

Critics claim SATs put children under unnecessary pressure and stress, and do not give youngsters a chance to enjoy education before they face rigorous examinations.

Parents at Lord Deramore’s Primary School in School Lane, Heslington, took part in a one day strike last year by taking their children out of school in a bid to get the Government to scrap controversial Sats tests.

Parents also contacted York Outer MP Julian Sturdy to raise their concerns over curriculum changes which focused more on exams.

Mum Bridget Payton, whose children go to Lord Deramore’s, said: “I certainly support teachers in taking whatever action they think is necessary.

“I always said our own actions were in support of teachers and against Government policy.

“Teachers suffer enormously in this situation because they are supposed to encourage life long learning, but they are delivering something that sets up the fear of failure.

“Parents and teachers are telling the Government that they are unhelpful in terms of any valuable information they deliver and, more importantly, they are unhelpful in terms of the wellbeing of children, so the Government has to listen.

“The more people who stand up and comment about this the better.”

The National Union of Teachers says the tests for seven and 11-year-olds are damaging to children and education.

The government is consulting on the future of primary assessment, and may scrap the tests for seven-year-olds and introduce a baseline test in reception.

In 2016, the first set of SATs on the new national curriculum were taken by pupils aged seven and 11-years-old in York’s schools. They test reading, grammar, punctuation, spelling and maths.