COUNCIL bosses have reminded primary school headteachers it is their statutory duty to administer the SATS tests tomorrow.

But Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council are not taking responsibility for the decisions of headteachers if they decide not to administer them as it is a matter between schools and the Government.

The National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Headteachers joined forces to boycott the tests.

They claim the tests are instrumental in damaging the quality, variety and enjoyment of education for children.

The overall vote was in favour of teaching children as usual instead of taking the tests.

Figures from a Lancashire County Council poll so far show that 117 schools will be undertaking the tests, 36 are making other assessment arrangements and one was not undertaking the tests.

In Blackburn with Darwen, 11 of the 51 primary schools have declared they will not be taking the SATS exams and seven will be administering them. The others had not declared their intentions.

Gladys Rhodes, Blackburn with Darwen Council stratgic director of children's services, said: "We have written to primary schools in the borough setting out their statutory responsibility to hold the exams and reminding governing bodies of their responsibilities to inform parents and the Qualification and Curriculum Development Agency if the tests are not going to be administered in the school.

"We also requested that schools inform us whether they plan to administer the SATS exams or not, which they are doing, and we are following the requirements laid out for us as a local authority.

“Schools deciding not to administer the exams are taking part in lawful industrial action."

Helen Denton, Lancashire County Council's executive director for children and young people, said: "The decision whether or not to boycott the SATs tests is a matter for individual headteachers, not the county council, with the statutory duty being one that is placed on governing bodies.

"We have encouraged all schools considering such action to think very carefully about the possible impact that this might have on those children currently in Year 6.”