Teachers want more of a role in assessing pupils' progress

They say the government has set "heavy-handed targets" which "militate against effective learning".

The tests are taken at age seven, 11 and 14 in England.

Welsh pupils sit them at 11 and 14 and in Northern Ireland at 14 only, but a review is under way in both countries. Scotland has no direct equivalent.

'Unholy trinity'

The tests have been criticised for damaging classroom morale and even causing depression among pupils.

In a joint statement, the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) called for an "independent and fundamental review" of national curriculum assessment.

League tables were a "superficial and crude" way of measuring educational progress, they said.

Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the ATL, said it was "essential that we reclaim assessment for teaching and learning - and the sooner the better".

She added: "High-stakes tests do untold damage to children's learning."

Last year, an NUT ballot failed to gather enough support among members for a boycott of tests at seven and 11 in England.

However, the general secretary, Doug McAvoy, said: "The unholy trinity of tests, targets and tables narrow the curriculum and undermine teaching and children's learning.

"If other governments in the UK can have the vision to tackle the damage caused by this approach, so can the government in England."

'Stress'

The tests - often known as Sats - were introduced in the mid-1990s to ensure standards in maths, English and science improved.

Teachers have complained of too much centralisation of standards and rigidity within the system.

They say timetables are becoming too crowded, preventing children from studying more creative subjects, such as art or music.

Jean Gemmell, general secretary of the PAT, said: "Teachers accept the need for children's process to be monitored, but too much testing is putting children, teachers and parents under increased stress. Tests don't give a complete picture of individual pupils' progress."

The three unions want teachers to be "at the forefront" of setting standards for national tests and to exercise "professional judgements" by becoming more involved in assessing pupils in their care.

A Department for Education and Skills spokesman said: "National testing helps drive improvement in all schools and for all children.

"Without national tests, parents and teachers would be deprived of the objective information they need to understand children's progress and to measure and compare school performance."