Parents have been asked to not send their children to primary school today, as part of a national strike in protest of tests.
More than 40,000 parents across the country have signed a petition against over-testing in primary schools.
The “Let Our Kids Be Kids” campaign was initially launched by a small group of parents concerned about the endless testing in the national curriculum, particularly the SATs tests. The movement quickly escalated nationwide with thousands more joining their social media campaigns.
According to the Let Our Kids Be Kids Facebook page, children are suffering from anxiety and their stress levels have increased. The Facebook pages states: “We can’t see any point to these exams and want an end to them… we want our kids to be kids again.
“From a tiny start, only a matter of weeks ago, this campaign has grown huge. This is because parents, teachers, unions and perhaps even the Government all know that what we have now isn’t good enough for our children. We can do better. And that needs to be together.”
But local primary schools such as Laycock and the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in the Holloway area reported that very few children are boycotting lessons today, with only one out of 60 children absent in Year 2.
In an open letter to the Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan, headteachers at primary schools in Haringey, North London said: “Recruitment and retention of teachers and Head Teachers is at an all-time low. There is also an increase in the numbers of children suffering from mental ill health issues, requiring greater support from National Health services and expenditure of public funds as never before. With this backdrop it becomes difficult to see the positive consequences of ever more demanding standards.”
Campaign organisers for Let Our Kids Be Kids are encouraging parents and people taking part in the strike to add #KidsStrike3rdMay on any photos shared on social media in support of the protest.
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