Bradford Council admits it is in the dark about just how many schools were today joining in with a national boycott of Sats exams.

It has been reported that almost 1,000 head teachers, including at schools in Yorkshire, have confirmed they will refuse to administer the tests to thousands of 11-year-olds.

A boycott is happening after the National Union of Teachers and the National Association of Head Teachers balloted its members.

One Bradford head teacher, John Edwards, of Lower Fields Primary School, told the Telegraph & Argus last week that he would prevent his 61 year six pupils from sitting the exams.

He, like many others, have claimed the tests give a flawed account of pupils’ capabilities, and that routine, daily assessment by teachers and senior leaders was more accurate.

The Bradford branches of the NUT and NAHT confirmed numerous primary schools would boycott the tests, but would not reveal which. A spokesman for Bradford Council said: “We don’t know how many schools will be taking part in the boycott because they are not obliged to warn us.”