A PLANNED protest against stressful SATs exams for primary school children has been hailed a success by parents who chose creative learning over the classroom.

Thousands of parents have decided to pull their children from schools across the North-East and North Yorkshire, as part of a national protest against the new exams.

The Key Stage One SATs, which test six and seven-year-olds in Year 2 and Key Stage 2 maths and English SATs, which test ten and 11-year-olds in Year 6, are part of a new curriculum which the Department for Education (DfE) says will raise standards.

More than 63,000 parents have signed a petition calling on the Government to scrap the exams, as part of the parent-led Let Our Kids be Kids campaign.

A parent whose children attend Croft Church of England Primary School who did not wish to be named, said she had boycotted school today (Tues, May 3).

She said: “My children are not due to take the exam this year but I wanted to support the protest.

“I just feel we don’t get much say as parents on our children’s education. We really love the school, headteacher and staff – they are doing an amazing job but I don’t agree with the changes the government is making.

“The confidence of a lot of children is being crushed – some do just take it in their stride but others don’t enjoy school anymore.

“They arrive at school on a morning and are faced with their work that is covered in corrections – it is demoralising.”

Parent governor at a North Yorkshire school Jenny Veitch said she had taken her son to Foxglove Covert wildlife reserve for a day of fun learning about flora and fauna.

“Since last week we have seen 20,000 likes on the campaign Facebook page, and this time last week there were one or two other children staying off school but I know around half his class has stayed away.

“We are having a day learning about wildlife, then tonight my son will write about it in a journal.”

Christine Blower, general secretary of National Union of Teachers, said: “The NUT fully understands why an increasing number of parents are so distressed by the primary assessment system.

“Teachers share their concerns and are likewise angry and dismayed at an assessment system which is age inappropriate and which is causing unnecessary stress and anxiety amongst children. This damages confidence which is a vital ingredient of successful learning.

“The NUT will continue to campaign alongside parents and other organisations to press Government to change course."

SCHOOLS NorthEast director Mike Parker said: “We are concerned about boycotting as a means of protest. The best place for young people is in school.

“Write to your MP, to the Education Secretary, to the chair of the education select committee and lobby them directly. That would be much more effective.”