A CHESHIRE head teacher has called for SATs to scrapped after the 'most challenging test' she has ever seen left pupils at her school 'broken'.

Kerry Forrester at Tarporley CE Primary School has written to Eddisbury MP Edward Timpson urging action over the negative impact the statutory assessments are having on children.

She says the tests, which are taken at the end Key Stages 1 and 2, are placing undue pressure on the children, affecting their mental health and well-being.

Ms Forrester revealed her 'road to Damascus' moment, which prompted her to write the letter, came as she witnessed year six children struggling with a reading test.

In her letter, she writes: "I would say this year we have seen the most negative impact on our children we have ever experienced.

"These are bright, capable children who, no matter how many times we tell them not to worry, they continue to pile immense pressure on themselves.

"Today really was my ‘road to Damascus’ moment. My year six children, all capable readers who love reading, opened their reading test paper and were broken!

"Tears flowed from our most capable readers and stress levels rose among all others. For what, I found myself asking - for no other reason than to sit a test for the government DFE accountability measure.

"This was the most challenging reading test I have seen in my 29 years as a teacher and my 14 years as a head teacher.

"Since Covid, we have spent time supporting our children to catch up and to believe in themselves as learners. Today saw so much of that work destroyed by a snapshot from an inappropriate test."

Ms Forrester added the SATs can be 'detrimental to the overall learning experience' of children and called for Mr Timpson to 'advocate for a more balanced approach to education'.

Her letter continued: "Instead of fostering a love for learning and encouraging creativity and critical thinking, children are being taught to memorise facts and figures for the sake of passing a test.

"This narrow focus on test results can undermine the development of other essential skills, such as problem-solving, teamwork and communication.

"I strongly urge you to consider the evidence and take action to address this issue.

"As an MP, you have the power to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children by advocating for a more balanced approach to education.

"I would like to see more emphasis on a holistic approach that values the development of creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, alongside academic achievements.

"Primary school should be where we make life-long learners, not switch children off.

"In conclusion I hope you will take my concerns seriously and work towards finding a solution to the negative impact of SATS on the mental health and well-being of the children here at Tarporley CE Primary School and across England."

Edward Timpson said: "I have been contacted by a number of local head teachers about the difficulty children faced taking the year six SATs reading paper, and have sent their correspondence directly to the Secretary of State for Education, as I know this is a more widespread concern."