Star comment: Don't test at expense of children

Mothers and fathers are concerned that their children are being hot-housed in a testing culture that creates too much stress and does little to help children grow.

Children aged seven and 11 sit SATs tests, though the level of difficulty is increasing with changes to school curriculums.

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has been dismayed by the protests. She has warned parents that taking their children out of schools even for a day can have a damaging effect.

However, many are likely to side with parents. While it is important that children are constantly monitored, that ought not to be at the expense of a wider learning experience.

As well as being able to learn, children also ought to know about the joy that reading can bring. They need to be allowed to make mistakes so that they can learn from them.

They need to be given the freedom to explore subjects that they find enjoyable, so that they can develop their own academic interests.

A dull, dry curriculum based around tests can cause stress in youngsters and those who score low marks can be damaged by their apparent failure.

There are cases where short-term pain can lead to long-term gain as children benefit by achieving higher scores than they would have if they had been left to their own devices.

There is a different side to the argument. The Government is keen to test children at an early age because those who fall behind in their formative years find it difficult to catch up. Identifying weaknesses can help teachers to focus more closely on areas of concern. Children can be saved before they fall.

And yet if such testing is to take place, it must be in an environment that is free of stress. Children should not be pressured at such a young age.

All adults will remember the pain of GCSEs and O-level exams; few would wish such unpleasantness on innocent children who are still at the start of their lives.

There must be vigilance to ensure that the welfare of children comes first and that a results-at-all-costs policy is not pursued.

We all want our children to do well; though how that is achieved is a matter for debate. Good teachers will pick up on weaknesses, without burdening children with stress.