The cost of testing of secondary school students has soared to £228.3 million since Labour came to power, the Liberal Democrats claimed today.

The figures show a rise of 64 per cent since 1997, the party has warned. Publishing an analysis of official figures, the Lib Dems added that the cost of producing school league tables has more than doubled.

In 1997 the cost of producing the data stood at £1.54 million, but this had risen to £3.09 million in 2002.

The party's education spokesman, Phil Willis, warned that students face too many examinations.

"These figures show that the government spends more and more valuable education cash on testing, whilst less and less is devoted to teaching," he said.

"Ministers have got their priorities all wrong. Our children are amongst the most tested in Europe. Secondary school pupils can now expect constant testing."

An average pupil taking eight GCSE subjects, five AS Levels and three A Levels will take 68 examinations in total, the Liberal Democrats said.

"The exam system has become so bloated that students now sit exams for the benefit of government league tables, rather than for their own good," added Willis.

"Students are not well served by the current exam system.

"Abolishing age-related GCSEs and introducing a new, more flexible system of national standard tests for 14 to 19-year-olds would better prepare students for employment or further study."