The National Assessment Agency and its managing director have become the latest victims of the Sats fiasco.
Following the publication of a damning report into this year's marking delays, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) announced it was abolishing the NAA, its division responsible for delivering the national curriculum tests.
David Gee, the NAA's managing director, has been suspended with immediate effect, the QCA board said.
The board added it was also suspending QCA chief executive Dr Ken Boston, who offered his resignation at the weekend, until it had time to fully consider the findings of Lord Sutherland's report.
In a statement, QCA chairman Christopher Trinick welcomed the results of Lord Sutherland of Houndwood's inquiry into the marking delays.
The report heaped blame on the QCA and its contractor, ETS Europe.
Mr Trinick said the report provided an "authoritative and clear analysis" of the problems. He reiterated the QCA's apology for the delays, adding "we must learn from the mistakes which happened".
The agency accepted the recommendations of Lord Sutherland, he said, and in response was planning to "fully integrate the NAA into the QCA". "NAA will be abolished and will not retain a separate identity or brand," he said.
He added: "The QCA Board has noted the resignation of the QCA chief executive Dr Ken Boston. The board wishes to consider fully the report from Lord Sutherland and has suspended Dr Boston until that is concluded. The QCA board has also decided to suspend David Gee, the managing director of the NAA, with immediate effect whilst again fully considering his position."
The board has begun looking for a replacement for Dr Boston, he said.
