The Government is facing calls from MPs to scrap the current system of national school tests.

The "widespread" practice of teachers drilling pupils to pass their tests has been condemned by the Commons schools select committee, which called for Sats to be cut back.

The MPs demanded an inquiry into "grade inflation" over fears that rising test and exam results may exaggerate the true standards of education that children reach.

And the committee warned that the Government's planned reforms, which will see pupils tested more often instead of at fixed ages, risks causing even more damage to education.

The damning report came as 1.2 million 11 to 14-year-olds across England take their Sats in maths, English and science.

Teachers and opposition politicians called on Schools Secretary Ed Balls to listen to the "groundswell of disapproval" of the school testing system.

The MPs' report said: "The system is now out of balance. The drive to meet Government-set targets has too often become the goal rather than the means to the end of providing the best possible education for all children.

"A variety of classroom practices aimed at improving test results has distorted the education of some children, which may leave them unprepared for higher education and employment.

"We received substantial evidence that teaching to the test, to an extent which narrows the curriculum and puts sustained learning at risk, is widespread.

"The way that many teachers have responded to the Government's approach to accountability has meant that test results are pursued at the expense of a rounded education for children."

The MPs recommended:

- An inquiry to find out the full extent of the problem of schools "teaching to the test".

- A reduction in the number of times children are externally tested and more use of internal teacher assessment.

- The current system of compiling national results from tests taken by every child aged seven, 11 and 14 should be abandoned.

- National standards should be monitored by testing a much smaller "sample" of pupils from across the country every year.

- The exams watchdog should conduct "a full review of assessment standards" as ministers have failed to address concerns over "grade inflation".

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