The NFER research was based on a survey of 3, 789 schools which had responded to a similar survey in 2006, plus questionnaires sent to all local authorities in England.

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"We fully support the recommendation in the recent NFER report that a wider pilot, using a British version of the tests, be carried out in order to see how they could be introduced without adding to the costs and workload of schools or to the uncertainties and unfairness of the present system, " they said.

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