Posted on Wednesday 19th Apr 2017
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has voted against balloting members on a boycott of primary school tests, known as Sats, in England.
Delegates at the union's conference rejected a resolution to ballot members over a protest against primary school tests for the academic year 2017-18.
They also agreed not to "support and promote a parent boycott" of the 2017 national curriculum tests (Sats).
The vote came despite two sessions of argument in favour of action.
A vote on a separate motion earlier in the conference backed moves to consider a ballot of membership over a boycott of tests in 2017-18 at a later stage, if there was enough support.
Opposing the motion, Sasha Elliott, a teacher from east London, said: "I've been coming to conference for over a decade, I've made speeches about the wickedness of Sats, ending Sats has to remain one of our union's highest priorities.
"But I'd like to think that we've learned from our past efforts to end these Sats, we have to admit we've been unsuccessful.
"This motion presents us with some serious problems... It's a waste of a precious ballot."
Latest News
20/05/19Kent's best and worst secondary schools based on 2018 GCSE results
Statistics from the Department for Education show how well schools in Kent performed in last year's exams
14/05/19Family jumps to defence of Chilton Primary School in Ramsgate after child escapes under gate
The child was quickly returned to the school and is now safe and well
10/05/19Shrinking break times in English schools 'impacting social skills'
Afternoon break virtually eliminated and older pupils losing over an hour a week, finds study
07/05/19Don't blame teachers for letting down excluded pupils - blame ministers | Gaby Hinsliff
Something is going very wrong for vulnerable kids – but is the school to blame? Schools should be accountable for exclusions, but so should the ministers who have cut vital services
03/05/19Hinds asks heads how to solve special-needs budget squeeze
Schools are facing "knock-on pressure" as demand for special-needs support rises, England's Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, is expected to admit to head teachers later.