HUNDREDS of primary school pupils are facing a controversial week of official testing next month as part of the government's strictest exam regime for decades.
Children in Years Two and Six at all schools will be forced to undergo a timetable of sit down exams under 'test conditions' between May 9 and 12 to assess their understanding of maths and English.
It will see youngsters as young as six and seven-years-old take on the toughest standards of mathematical reasoning and grammar, punctuation and spelling for years in a move condemned by teachers' union officials across the area.
Acclaimed primary school headteacher Chris Brooksbank, National Union of Teachers secretary for Cumbria, described SATs for six-year-olds as 'ill-conceived' and damaging to children.
"Unfortunately, these tests seem to be ill conceived and don't seem to make very much sense," he said.
"They are frustrating to teachers and many parents and are ruining young children's experience of education in Years Two and Six - when they otherwise have a natural enthusiasm for learning.
"And for what purpose?" Mr Brooksbank added.
"Should we be enforcing the time spent to do this type of thing?
"Because I don't think that's what education is about."
The NUT issued an official call to government education minister Nicky Morgan over Easter to scrap the new mandatory academic testing for Year Two and Year Six children.
The organisation is also to consider balloting its members over a boycott of next year's exams.
And concerns have been raised over the pressure a week of formal exams could place on children of primary school age despite the mental health of young people being declared a priority by the government.
Former primary school headteacher Alan Rutter, a Cumbria NUT caseworker, labelled the regime heartbreaking for children.
"The way we are forced down this road of coaching kids for SATs breaks your heart.
"All it does is put an awful lot of stress on children, devalues what they do and makes them feel they have failed. It's a crime."
CHILDREN in Years 2 and 6 are set to take on a week of formal testing in May for the government's new SATs regime.
Here's everything you need to know about Standard Attainment Tests.
<strong>What are SATs?</strong>
SATs are tests set by the government to assess children's level of understanding and attainment in maths and literacy.
They are taken by six and seven-year-olds in Year 2 and 10 and 11-year-olds in Year 6.
<strong>What's different about them this year?</strong>
This is the first year that will see primary school children SAT exams set to a tough new standard.
<strong>What does the government say?</strong>
The government says the 'challenging' new level tests will help encourage a 'greater focus on high quality teaching' while reflecting the 'high expectations of the new national curriculum'.
<strong>What do teaching union officials say?</strong>
Officials from the NUT say the tests are bad for children and dampen their enthusiasm for learning. They also say academic tests place unnecessary pressure on children as young as six and seven-years-old.
What do you think about the new style SATs for primary school children?
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