The primary school curriculum should be broader, heads say.

Most primary school head teachers believe it will be impossible to meet the government's test result targets next year, a survey suggests.

As 11 year olds prepare to take Standard Assessment Tests (Sats) in English, maths and science, a Times Educational Supplement poll shows 80% of heads want the national achievement goals removed.

Nine out of 10 said the government would miss its 2004 target that 85% reach the required standard in English and maths.

Last year, 80% were supposed to attain that level in English, but only 75% did.

'Hasty retreat'

For maths, 73% reached the standard, against a benchmark of 75%.

The National Union of Teachers recently promised to ballot its members on boycotting tests for seven, 11 and 14 year olds in England.

The TES poll of 400 heads, carried out by FDS International, showed 75% believed that, while test scores had improved, that did not mean children were learning more.

More than half said subjects such as art, music and design and technology had been squeezed out of the curriculum by the concentration on English and maths.

Nine out of ten said the tests stifled creativity while three-quarters said they would be able to offer a broader curriculum if the targets were dropped.

The survey was released on the eve of the National Association of Head Teachers conference in York.

NAHT general secretary David Hart said: "I've been saying for months now that the chances of meeting the 2004 targets are negligible.

"I think, quite frankly, that the government ought to beat a pretty hasty retreat because, if they don't, they are going to suffer very badly politically if the targets are not met."