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Parents keep children off school in protest over controversial exams

Parents have kept their children off school for the day in protest over controversial tests for six and seven-year-olds.

The action comes after more than 40,000 people signed a petition supporting a boycott of Year 2 Sats by teachers.

The Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign has organised the day of action in protest at children being "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".

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

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Sats tests help 'identify children who need extra support' says schools minister

  • Report by ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner

Parents took their children out of school today in protest at tests that they say are overstretching schoolchildren.

Sats tests for six- and seven-year-olds aren't new, but many believe they have increased in difficulty over the years.

Supporters of the tests say this is the only way to ensure that pupils who are struggling can be identified and helped.

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