A Minehead school is boycotting next month’s SATs tests amid claims they are “not in the best interests” of pupils.

Paul Rushforth, head teacher at Minehead Middle School, is backing unions which voted to stop ten and 11-year-olds sitting the exams.

Strike action has been ruled out but the Government may take legal action to block the disruption from May 10 to 13.

Mr Rushforth said this week: “Staff at Minehead Middle School have chosen to support their professional associations in boycotting the Year 6 SATs.

“We strongly believe these tests are not in the best interests of our children nor indeed children across England.

“However, because as a school we prepare our children to do their very best in these tests, we will ensure they take them as planned and will mark them ourselves using the mark scheme provided by the QCA.”

Ian Bradbury, head at Williton’s Danesfield Middle School, said the exams would go ahead as normal.

He said he could “understand and share” many concerns over SATS but said pulling the plug on tests at this late stage was “not the right decision”.

A spokesman for Dulverton Middle School said tests would go ahead as normal.

Tony Halstead, National Association of Headteachers president in Somerset, said his school, Wiveliscombe Primary, had yet to decide on a boycott but added: “Sats are past their sell-by-date – it's a flawed system.

“I've no objection to assessing and testing children but the importance attached to these fairly arbitrary tests is out of proportion.”

Mick Lerry, National Union of Teachers’ divisional secretary in Somerset, said he opposed SATs because they pre-judged schools before inspection.

Somerset County Council has advised heads and governors how to respond to potential industrial action.

A spokesman said: “It'll be a matter of conscience for any teachers’ and head teachers’ decision on whether they choose to boycott the tests.”

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