Parents gathered in a Cockermouth park this week to show their support for a national campaign which is opposed to increased pressures being put on children and teachers by the government.

They wrote messages on a protest banner which will be sent to Nicky Morgan, Secretary of State for education.

More than 43,000 parents have signed a petition started by the group Let Kids be Kids, in protest against the standard assessment tests, which they believe are putting their children under unnecessary pressure.

On Tuesday, some of them met in parks and woods throughout the country to take part in play days.

Parents from across Cockermouth and the surrounding villages gathered in Harris Park and most of them were accompanied by their children.

The parents said there was far too much on emphasis on testing rather than teaching in many primary schools. They said it was unnecessary, put too much pressure on youngsters and teachers and took the joy out of learning.

Primary school children do the tests in years two and six.

They are drawn up to assess children’s grasp of the recently introduced primary school National Curriculum, which is widely considered to be harder than the previous one.

Amanda Denwood has a son, John, seven, at Fairfield Primary School in Cockermouth. “I really struggle with the testing of children at that age, they are so young. I used to teach English and know that they are not going to need the stuff they are having to learn.

“This takes away the love of learning. Teachers are caught between a rock and a hard place and having to jump through hoops as a result of Ofsted and league tables. Sats need to be changed – or, better still, dropped.”

Cockermouth School English teacher Judy Milledge also has a son, Dan, eight, at Fairfield. He attended school on Tuesday. “I do not think the English testing regime bears any resemblance to what they need to grasp for later life. It also reinforces a sense of failure in children that are otherwise very able.”

Gillian Howard has two boys, Hamish, six, and Morgan, five, at Dean Primary School. “There is just no point in these tests, they’re simply setting them up for failure. They are kids for such a short time, why put them under this pressure? Kids should be having more fun at school,” she said.

The event was organised by Sara Brown, who has two children, Finn, eight, and Freya, six, at Lorton Primary School.

“I’m pleased with the turnout and many other parents have been in touch who were not able to join in because of work commitments but would like to sign the banner,” said Sara.

Trella Javanainen has a son, Leo, five, at Lorton school. Trella, who is from Finland, said: “I started school at seven and the first and last time I did any formal national tests was when I was 18.

“Teachers have been evaluating children for decades, they know what level the children are at, they do not need a Sat to tell them this.”

David McCabe has two children, Nell, six, and Ged, seven, at Eaglesfield Paddle Primary Academy. He said: “We want to support the teachers first and foremost but I think they’re being told to focus too much on too few things.

“The fun element is diminishing. I think a lot of our schools do well to balance things but we need to express our dissatisfaction with the system.”