SCHOOLS are braced for "strike" action by children after tens of thousands of people signed a petition supporting a boycott in protest over exams for six- and seven-year-olds.

The Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign wants parents across England to keep their children off school today, saying they are "over-tested, over-worked and in a school system that places more importance on test results and league tables than children's happiness and joy of learning".

The petition, signed by more than 40,000 people, added: "We want our kids to be kids again and enjoy learning for learning's sake, not for Ofsted results or league table figures.

"Bring back the creativity and the fun - say goodbye to repetition and boredom."

In an open letter to Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, published on their website, the Year Two parents behind Let Our Kids Be Kids said they "represent the voice of parents across the country" who "want an end to Sats (standard assessment tests) now".

They wrote: "Please take a long, hard look at this.

"Do you want your legacy to be the confident cancellation of unneeded and unnecessary Sats, showing you are listening to your electorate and the teachers you claim to support ... or the overseeing of a shambolic testing regime desperately unwanted by millions of people to the point that this country saw its first open parent revolt?

"You have the power to stop these tests. NOW. Our children, our teachers and our schools deserve better than this."

Sats are taken by children aged six or seven in Year Two and then again in Year Six, aged 10 or 11, before a third set in Year Nine aged 13 or 14.

Parents are being urged by the campaign to keep their children off school for "a day of educational fun instead" and the website includes posts from hundreds of groups or parents indicating they will take part in another activity rather than attending classes.

One parent from Somerset, April Lee, explained why she was keeping her kids off school today.

She told the County Gazette: "My children are striking.

"They are in year 2 and 4.

"Both have July birthdays and one was pre-term and struggles.

"Before the curriculum change he was catching up and now the bar has been raised to be more difficult he is feeling the pressure and I cannot see how this will improve his learning, luckily he tries amazingly hard and I am sure he will thrive.

"But why should children have to have so much stress - they should have more time for fun and to build on the most important area of development - social and emotional skills.

"The new curriculm is difficult for most children especially for those requiring extra support. 

"We are supporting the strike to support the teachers and to show the government that sats are unnecessary.

"Teacher monitoring and testing should be enough.

"Teachers should be given the trust to monitor their children and to teach them what they are able to cope with.


"The new curriculum is focused on maths, English and science and less time will be spent on PE, art, DT, music etc.

"My son is hugely imaginative and his strength's will not be encouraged.

"Over time this I am sure will have a knock on effect on his confidence and attitude to learning.

"I'm not prepared to sit here and allow both my children to have a boring education that does not allow them to thrive in areas that they have so much room of growth in."

The Education Secretary warned that missing school even for a single day would be "harmful" and called for those behind the "damaging" campaign to reconsider their actions.

In a speech on Saturday, she said: "To those who say we should let our children be creative, imaginative, and happy - of course I agree, both as a parent and as the Education Secretary.

"But I would ask them this: how creative can a child be if they struggle to understand the words on the page in front of them? They certainly can't enjoy them.

"What are the limits placed on a child's imagination, when they cannot write down their ideas for others to read?"

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "These tests are vital in helping schools to ensure that young children are learning to read, write and add up well.

"The truth is if they don't master literacy and numeracy early on, they risk being held behind and struggling for the rest of their lives.

"Children should only ever be taken out of school in exceptional circumstances and we'd urge the organisers of this campaign to drop their plans because it simply isn't fair on children to deprive them of a day of their education."