PARENTS who took their children out of school yesterday in protest at a new testing regime have been praised for "taking a stand" against the Government.

Windmill Primary School headteacher Lynn Knapp backed the actions of parents who took part in so-called Kids Strike, with Oxfordshire County Council education cabinet member Melinda Tilley said their actions were "responsible".

Parents across England took part in the day, organised by campaign group Let Our Kids Be Kids, in protest at what they claim is a culture of over-testing.

It comes after criticism of Sats tests – taken by children in year two and year six – which some parents have said are too challenging and result in a dull and dry curriculum based around exams.

Marie Hale from Headington took her son Lucas out of year one at Windmill Primary School in Headington as she was concerned about what he would be learning next year when he is due to sit the tests.

The 39-year-old said: "It was a really easy decision to make.

"The tests are not age appropriate, some children sitting Sats are only six and in some parts of Europe they would not even have started school at that age.

"I want my children to be happy at school whether they want to be scientists or artists or IT experts."

Full-time-mum Mrs Hale, took Lucas and his three-year-old brother Bodhi along to the Natural History Museum instead of sending them to class.

Lucas's headteacher Lynn Knapp said she was fully supportive of the family's decision and would not be taking any disciplinary action against them.

She said: "It takes us all to stand up and say we do not think this system works for our children."

The Department for Education has defended the tests and say they were designed to assess teachers rather than pupils.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said: "The truth is if they don't master literacy and numeracy early on, they risk being held behind and struggling for the rest of their lives."

Mrs Tilley, who criticised the department earlier this year over its plans to make all schools convert to academies, said it had to examine why so many people were upset at its plans for Sats.

She said: "Some of the questions children are being asked at a young are do seem quite silly."