The National Union of Teachers is to ballot members on a boycott of the government's national tests.

The decision followed a meeting of the union's 42-strong executive on Thursday. The result of the ballot is expected in December.

Under the boycott, teachers would not prepare pupils for the key stage one tests, taken by seven-year olds, or Key Stage Two tests, taken by 11-year olds, when school returns next year.

A survey by the NUT found that 81.5 per cent of teachers would support a boycott of key stage one tests, while the same was true of 71.4 per cent of teachers for key stage two.

"The NUT has sought a meeting with the government to press for a review of testing in England. It has ignored that request," said general secretary Doug McAvoy.

"Teachers in England do not understand why they and their pupils should be treated differently from those in Scotland and Wales.

"In Scotland following a review, national tests are to be replaced by teacher assessment. In Wales key stage one tests have been abandoned and a review of key stage two and three tests is underway.

"The stubbornness of the government in refusing to discuss with us a similar review for England will add to the anger of teachers.

"It is only the government that fails to recognise the inadequacy of these tests and the damage they cause to children's education not least because of the constraining affect they have on teachers' professional judgement.

"Across the country teachers and parents are tired of the disruption these tests cause to their children's education."

However, he insisted that children's education would not be harmed by teacher action.

"When the boycott goes ahead, no child's education will be disrupted," insisted McAvoy.

"Instead teachers will be able to use their professional judgement to their pupils' benefit and in support of their primary purpose of educating children."

In response, shadow education secretary Damian Green described the decision as "disappointing".

"This is a disappointing decision and one which could severely disrupt children learning," he said.

"Tests are a useful measure of standards, both for teachers and parents. The real problem for schools is the Government's imposition of National targets based on the test results which do not serve any useful purpose.

"We do not want to go back to the days when parents were not allowed to know how the school their child attends is performing. I hope NUT members do not support strike action."