LIVERPOOL governors are set to dock headteachers’ pay if they refuse to set tests for pupils next month.

Liverpool council letters have been sent out to all chairs of governors in the city making it clear that headteachers joining in a national boycott of the SATS exams due to be taken by 11-year-olds between May 10-13 are breaching their contracts.

By refusing to set the English and maths tests, the council says they are “failing to fulfil the terms of their contracts of employment and therefore governing bodies can respond to this”.

This the council makes clear includes hitting headteachers in their wage packets and withholding pay due to any “partial performances”.

Although the boycott will not see staff walk out of class or take time off school, the council states that “action short of a strike” still meant governors were entitled to dock pay.

The advice states: “We would advise that the more measured approach would be to withhold a proportion of pay to reflect the work that is not being undertaken.”

The local authority insists it is following government advice, but last night furious union officials attacked the council’s “threatening” stance .

Julie Lyon-Taylor is Merseyside executive member of the National Union of Teachers. In conjunction with the National Association of Head Teachers, the union voted to boycott the SATS, believing they encourage schools simply to “teach to test” and should be replaced with national sampling.

And she warned other Merseyside councils against making the pay threat, revealing the union would seek legal advice if any members were docked pay.

She said: “I think the council’s letters are threatening and intimidating.

“This is not a strike and all pupils will be educated.