TWO children unhappy with controversial school tests are taking their protest to the top.

Derryn Cowling and Lola Prout, both aged 11, want the Government to scrap Sats (Standard Assessment Tests).

They go to Broomgrove Junior School, Wivenhoe, and believe the assessments are unfair.

Now they want other schools in the area to join their campaign.

Teacher Jean Quinn said: "Every year when we revise for the Sats the children complain, and we complain as staff because we feel they are unfair.

"Every year I tell the children that if they don't like them, they should do something about it. This year they took me up on it."

She said the girls wanted children from other schools to join in and take action.

Derryn and Lola have already written to North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin and asked for his support.

Children sit Sats, which are national curriculum tests, in school years at age seven, 11 and 14.

The first set of tests covers reading, writing and maths, then become more formal and assess performance in English, maths and science.

Teaching unions have called for an end to the tests for years.

They say the assessments put children under unnecessary pressure and that schools are too concerned about league tables.

l Sats tests will come under the spotlight on television tonight with a Panorama investigation, part of which is believed to have been filmed in West Mersea.

In Tested to Destruction, Panorama reporter Vivian White investigates the issues surrounding Sats, with film shot at Mersea Island School, West Mersea.

The programme is due to be broadcast on BBC 1 at 8.30pm.