The "badly flawed" organisation of this year's key stage three English tests for school pupils has led to the resignation of a senior official.

The conclusion, from a review board set up by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), prompted the departure of Jonathan Ford, the head of the agency tasked with organising the exams.

The Conservatives claimed that Labour's "targets obsessed culture" was to blame.

School standards minister David Miliband said it was important to ensure the fiasco "does not occur in the future".