Monica Galt is head of the beacon school where 98 per cent of pupils are from ethnic minorities and learning English is a struggle for many. She said: “Many schools are doing their best and are struggling within the targets. Targets are something you aim for. If you do not reach them you just try again. You do not just shut the door. There is far too much emphasis on targets and not enough on the actual achievements of the children.

“Most people don’t have a clue about what children need to do to get to present levels. All they see are league tables. Now they are pushing them up further. It could have terrible knock-on effects. It could put them off education for life. It is like asking a Shetland pony to win the Grand National.”

By 2004, the Government expects 85 per cent of 11-year-olds to reach level 4 in English and maths and 35 per cent to reach level 5.

Prue Hulme, who teaches seven-year-olds, agreed the targets were unrealistic. But other government initiatives have proved popular, including the literacy and numeracy hours and national tests. “Each year group knows exactly what they are teaching and the children are getting a better standard of education,” said Mrs Hulme. “Children actually find these hours fun. If we are not doing literacy hour they want to know why.”

She favoured the extension of the hours to secondary school. “My daughter is at high school and they don’t even do spelling tests,” she said.

Simon Parker, who teaches 11-year-olds, said that workload could already be “overwhelming”. “We are highly professional and competent teachers. We know what our children can achieve. If they don’t reach it we know they have done their best.”

Mr Parker and Mrs Hulme supported the idea of an entitlement to languages at primary schools - but only if this was adequately resourced.