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On 5 August 2008, the think tank Civitas published a report (Fast track to slow progress) which suggests that a majority of secondary school teachers doubt the value and accuracy of Sats exams.
Based on a nationwide survey of 107 secondary schools, the report finds that 90% of secondary school teachers questioned judged the Key Stage 2 Sats results to be inconsistent with pupils' true abilities during the last school year. In addition, 79% of secondary school teachers found that up to a third of their Year 7 group's abilities were lower than their Key Stage 2 Sats results in the last school year.
Teaching to the test or 'coaching' is seen to be the principal reason for inflated Key Stage 2 results. Of those teachers who felt that Key Stage 2 results had been sometimes or often higher than pupils' actual abilities, the report finds that 77% believe the main or second most important cause is teaching to the test or ‘coaching’ for Sats.