Some academics say such cheating is on the increase because schools are under huge pressure to improve their national league table positions . The shocking lengths cheating teachers go to in order to boost their schools ' exam grades has been exposed in a new report . Blatant cases include staff suggesting the correct answers to pupils during exams , scribbling them in pencil on completed coursework so that pupils can then write over them in pen , and whispering to candidates in spoken language tests . Some academics say such cheating is on the increase because schools are under huge pressure to improve their national league table positions . In one extreme case last year , unconnected to the new report , the entire governing body of a school was dissolved and eight members of staff were suspended over allegations of exam irregularities , although five have since been reinstated . The examples of cheating are contained in guidance to exam boards about how to deal with 'malpractice ' in this summer 's A-level and GCSE exams , published by umbrella body the Joint Council for Qualifications ( JCQ ) . Examples included : . - A timetable clash that meant several candidates sat an A-level English Literature paper in the morning when it was officially scheduled for the afternoon , allowing a teacher to enter the exam hall , look at the paper and pass information to candidates taking the test later ; . - A member of staff who was in the exam room during a GCSE Geography paper suggesting possible answers to pupils when they raised their hands ; . - A number of candidates who admitted they had been given information about a confidential GCSE English question papers by the head of the exam centre ; . - A teacher who had made additions in pencil to a number of supposedly completed 'high level , controlled ' science assessments and returned the answers to the pupils so they could make corrections , which they did in different coloured pens ; . - A teacher conducting a GCSE Italian speaking test who was heard on the official recording whispering words in Italian to the candidate and , presumably in an attempt to hide the cheating , pausing the recorder a number of times , in breach of the rules . Blatant cases include staff suggesting the correct answers to pupils during exams and scribbling them in pencil on completed coursework so that pupils can then write over them in pen . Neither the JCQ nor the exam boards were prepared to give further details about the examples yesterday , but the report did record the penalties meted out to the guilty teachers – usually a ban from involvement with exam papers , or access to exam rooms for between two and five years . The Government 's exam watchdog Ofqual issued 119 penalties against school and college staff for malpractice in GCSE and A-levels last summer , up from 100 the previous year . Showing how widespread the problem is , schools recently investigated include St John 's in Marlborough , Wiltshire , where a teacher was said to have briefed pupils during what should have been a silent coursework assessment , and Small Heath primary in Birmingham , where a now former head changed pupils ' SATs papers to improve their results . At Goole High School in Hull , eight members of staff were suspended last September after allegations of exam irregularities . Five have returned to their jobs but two remain suspended pending an internal investigation . Professor Alan Smithers , director for education and employment research at Buckingham University , said : 'Getting good exam results is tremendously important for schools and if they do n't they can be in serious trouble . But the exams are not robust enough to withstand clever cheating and worried teachers can be tempted . The evidence is that cheating by teachers is on the rise . ' And Professor Rob Coe , an expert on exams at Durham University , warned that teachers were losing their 'professional morality ' , adding : 'It is kind of seen as OK to do things you know are wrong because everyone else is doing them . ' JCQ director general Michael Turner said : 'Having a robust and secure examination system is essential . Awarding organisations take any allegation of malpractice very seriously . '
Cases include staff suggesting right answers to pupils during exams . Also scribbled in pencil on coursework so pupils can write over it in pen . Academics say it 's because schools under such pressure in league tables . Examples found in guidance to exam boards on how to tackle 'malpractice ' Published by umbrella body , the Joint Council for Qualifications ( JCQ )