Schools boycott tests

OLDHAM schools are set to boycott next month’s national tests for 11-year-olds.

Two unions have backed the action during the English and maths SATs exams which are due to start on May 10 — four days after the general election.

They say that they are bad for education and force teachers to drill pupils for exams, favouring sample testing instead.

The boycott would also affect the primary school league tables.

Some 75 per cent of National Union of Teachers (NUT) members voted in favour the industrial action, with a turn out of 34 per cent. The National Association of Head Teachers had a 50 per cent turnout, with 61 per cent in favour.

Union leaders are expected to decide on Wednesday whether to proceed. However, they have stressed that the boycott would not be a strike and that children would attend school as normal.

Bryan Beckingham, branch secretary of Oldham NUT, said: “The majority of head teachers in Oldham will support the boycott.”