The National Union of Teachers has not garnered enough support from its members to hold a boycott of national tests for seven and 11-year-olds.

The union argues that the exams in English, maths and science place undue pressure on pupils and create extra work for staff.

Although the majority of the received ballots indicated support for a boycott, the turnout was too low for the vote to be carried.

"Rarely has there been such a large and positive response to a ballot for industrial action. Over 35,000 members voted but that is not enough under the union's own stringent rules to sanction a boycott," said general secretary Doug McAvoy.

"Yet government should be under no illusion that the strength of feeling against tests remains undiminished. The members who voted yes were prepared to take industrial action to end the tests. Those who voted no or failed to vote believe the tests should go.

"The teaching profession remains convinced that the tests constrain their professional judgement and undermine children's learning."

The union is set to continue highlight "the damaging effects of the tests".

Responding, the Liberal Democrats argued that the result did not let the government "off the hook".

"All activities in our schools must be designed for the benefit of children, not for meaningless government statistics," said education spokesman Phil Willis.

"The NUT's decision not to take action does not let the government of the hook on testing.

"The 86 per cent positive response for action over SATs by NUT members who turned out to vote, should send as a clear signal to Charles Clarke that all is not well.

"The government and other teacher unions must enter positive negotiations over the current system of testing, which has little validity and distorts young people's learning."