Extra SATs pressure making West Country kids unhealthy

As hundreds of thousands of children prepare for their SATs tests this week, the issue of how these tests affect kids is once again making headlines.>There are claims that the extra pressure of SATs test could be affecting the health of primary school children across the South West.

Thousands of pupils in Years 2 and 6 have begun their first tests today. >But a new study has found that more than one in ten in the region have lost sleep worrying about them, and one in five felt sick with nerves.>The research also found that one in eight kids claim they didn't eat breakfast most mornings of SATs week, with girls almost twice as likely as boys to abandon breakfast.

More than one in ten (13%) children in the South West lost sleep worrying while doing SATs. Credit: ITV West Country

It comes six days after many parents pulled their children out of school in protests at the extra pressure the tests are putting on pupils in Year 2 and Year Six.

Teacher, Craig Andrew says the papers are becoming increasingly difficult.