AN ordinary morning for youngsters at an out-of-school club turned extraordinary when they came face to face with the Prime Minister.

David Cameron visited Sacred Heart RC Primary School in Westhoughton to set out plans for 11-year-olds who do not achieve good SATs results to take resits.

Conservatives say the policy – which would mean 100,000 pupils taking a new test in English and maths during their first year at high school – will ensure children do not fall behind.

But Labour said the scheme was simply an attempt to disguise the Conservatives’ “failures” on schools standards.

Speaking in Westhoughton today, Mr Cameron said the move was “essential”.

He said: “I have three primary school-aged children of my own, and I care deeply that they get the qualifications and the skills they need so that when they leave primary school they can make the most of all their secondary school, access the curriculum and get good results in their GCSEs.”

Mr Cameron said 100,000 children a year leave primary school without the right skills, and only seven in 100 of these go on to get five good GCSEs.

He added: “When children fall behind the best thing to do is not to cover that up or look the other way or pretend it doesn’t matter — the best thing to do is to put it right.

“And that is why you must have these resists to make sure these children get the skills they need so they can go on and achieve to their full potential.”

The plans, which would be implemented next year, would see pupils who do not achieve the expected grades take a standardised test in maths and English with up to two retakes while they are in year seven.

Martin Johnson, Sacred Heart’s headteacher, said he did not think SATs resits would put undue pressure on pupils.

However, he warned the “worst case scenario” would be that the policy would single children out unnecessarily.

Mr Johnson said: “The challenge is already there for children to achieve at least a level 4B. We are aiming to get children to mastery level, so there has to be some kind of closing the gap.

“I am not sure that tests are ever the right thing for primary-age children but there needs to be some way of checking that children are being challenged.”

Mr Johnson also said he hoped the policy would not lead to ability grouping in primary schools, as this would lead to low aspirations for children.

Tristram Hunt, the shadow education secretary, called the move “a desperate attempt by the Tories to try and overshadow their failures on school standards”.

David Hassett, principle officer for the North West NUT, based in Bolton, said the plans could put the children who would have to take resits more at risk of bullying.

He said: “Our view is that it is more unnecessary testing for young people.

“Kids in the UK are already among the most stressed in the EU, and this will add to that.

“We already think SATs are being misused as a way of forcing primary schools to become academies, and this policy would open the door for that to creep into secondary schools too.

“It is a complete knee jerk response – just doing the test again will not help close the gap. Pupils who are falling behind need extra support and resources to enable schools to help them catch up.”

Mr Hassett said the plans could also mean secondary schools would be less likely to take on children who needed to sit retakes, meaning a handful of schools could become “dumping grounds” for pupils who did not have places elsewhere.