LARGE numbers of Bolton teachers could boycott children's SATs tests in April, union officials have warned.

Members of the Bolton branch of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) have criticised Standard Assessment Tests in a statement issued following their annual general meeting.

The statement described SATs as a symbol of everything that is wrong with children's education, and it called on the Government to abolish the tests in favour of properly moderated teacher assessments.

Now Bolton NUT members are waiting to see if the national NUT conference in April will vote for a national boycott of the controversial tests.

Bolton NUT spokesman Barry Conway said: "We want a return to boycotting SATs. We know they are damaging our children.

"All the research shows that there is no educational value at all in SATs."

The Bolton NUT statement will be sent round to schools with a petition urging parents to put their name to the campaign. Other NUT branches are also involved in the protest.

SATs are tests taken in English, Maths and Science by all children in local authority schools in the country at ages seven, 11 and 14.

The test results are used to compare children born in the same month, and act as a basis on which to monitor each youngster's subsequent performance.

Mr Conway said the NUT was in favour of a scheme whereby teachers would use their professional judgement to assess each child.

He said teachers would be able to highlight weaknesses and address them. They would also be able to take other individual factors into account.