TEACHERS will not give up their battle to axe SATs despite losing a ballot for industrial action.

Lewisham National Union of Teachers (NUT) has campaigned strongly for an end to the tests, for seven and 11-year-olds, which they believe severely undermine education.

But a national ballot this week failed to approve a boycott of the tests, because turn-out for the vote was not high enough.

Across the country, 30,452 teachers, or 86.2 per cent of voters, supported the boycott.

Just under 5,000 members voted against.

But just 34 per cent of eligible members took part compared with the 50 per cent necessary to make the vote valid for action.

Lewisham NUT secretary Martin Powell-Davies said: "Rarely has there been such a large and positive response to a ballot for industrial action.

"NUT members have easily surpassed all of the legal limits for taking industrial action.

"Unfortunately the NUT has internal rules with ballot requirements that are far more stringent than the legal requirements.

"Although more than 35,000 members voted, the National Union has ruled that this is not enough to sanction a boycott."

He warned the Government the NUT would continue to do everything in its power to campaign against SATs.

"In some areas of the country primary headteachers are asking the Government to be allowed not to have the tests. We will raise this with governors and heads," he said.

"Most Lewisham teachers are convinced that the tests constrain their professional judgement and undermine children's learning. A fundamental independent review of testing as undertaken in Scotland and in place in Wales is the best way forward."