A BALLOT to decide whether or not teachers will boycott SATs for primary school pupils will not go ahead after a debate at the National Union of Teachers conference.

The motion was voted down on the final day of the conference yesterday, despite widespread agreement among NUT members that the exams put unnecessary pressure on pupils.

Divisional Secretary for NUT Swindon Peter Smith said that the time was not yet right to vote for a boycott.

He said: “It takes time to organise and meet with allies in other movements and get people involved.

“We are going to be conducting an internal ballot in the autumn to see what level of support there is and, if there is sufficient support, there will then be a ballot for a boycott.”

The vote comes just weeks after the government announced plans to scrap Key Stage 2 tests for seven-year-olds.

Mike Welsh, headteacher of Goddard Park Primary School, said he understood the NUT’s decision and was also concerned about the exams.

Mr Welsh said: “It’s quite clear that this high-stakes testing is putting enormous pressure on children and teachers and, indeed, on parents.

“They’re there to test the schools as much as the children, and we have Ofsted for that, there’s no need to put pressure on children to test us.”

Even if it had gone ahead, the boycott would not have been the first of its kind.

In 2010, the National Association of Head Teachers joined the NUT in a SATs boycott after ballots of their leadership members showed support.

It was down to individual heads, deputies and assistant heads to decide whether to take part.

Around a quarter of primary schools in England were involved in the action, with tens of thousands of youngsters missing the tests.

Mr Welsh said: “After the first boycott seven years ago, the Government made some changes but it’s still a major concern.

“It was felt that the pressure on children at a time when they are meant to be enjoying life was too great. This is backed by the recent publicity over children’s mental health.”

Last spring, there was a parent-led campaign to keep children off school during SATs week, with organisers arguing that there is more focus on testing, results and league tables than children’s happiness.

Mr Smith said: “This showed that the message is getting out there, people are realising how ridiculous SATs are, how they’re more to do with enforced market competition between schools.”

Mr Welsh added that lack of funding was also a pressing concern.

“I’m sure the NUT will also be asking candidates in the General Election questions to see where they stand on the issue around school funding as right now it’s not being addressed,” he said.