PRIMARY schools in Malvern have given this week’s SATs tests a less than enthusiastic welcome as hundreds of schools across England boycotted the controversial exams.

Many spoke of their reluctance to administer the Key Stage Two tests for 10-11-year-olds but felt that ballots by the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Head Teachers had come too late.

Headteacher of Welland Primary School, Rachael Huff, said: “Next year we will be in support of trying to change the system. We just thought the time scale was not very fair on the children with it being so close.” She added: “What the unions are trying to do, we support.”

Rose Carberry, head at Northleigh Primary, decided after “a lot of soul searching” her school would also ask pupils to sit the reading, writing and mathematics tests.

She said: “I recognise the enormous amount of work that the children have put into preparing for the tests and this has been one of the deciding factors in my decision.

“The pressure that is being put on headteachers and governors to comply has also put me in a position that I do not want to cause anyone else anxiety by my refusal to administer the tests.”

Castlemorton head Janet Adsett said her school had also decided to hold the exams, adding: “It was not an easy decision. The decision was finally made by myself but all stakeholders were offered a chance to make a contribution.”

Kevin Clough, head at Malvern Wells Primary School, said: “I think it was very late, asking us to make that decision. Seeing as the children had put all the work in we thought it would be very unfair.”

He added that he was not happy about how the results were used for league tables and by Ofsted inspectors.

Colin Weeden, Worcestershire County Council's head of raising achievement and access to learning, said he was unable to indicate how many schools, if any, were boycotting the tests across Malvern. He added: "We would like to clarify that, despite this action, all schools in Worcestershire will be assessing pupils' progress and performance at Key Stage Two this year by using the DCSF's approved Assessing Pupils' Progress strategy."