The director of education at Salford City Council, Mark Carriline, said: "Following a parental complaint, the head teacher and deputy head teacher at a Salford primary have been suspended pending further investigations into allegations of mishandling the SATs papers.

Following a parental complaint, the head teacher and deputy head teacher at a Salford primary have been suspended pending further investigations into allegations of mishandling the SATs papers.

Mark Carriline, Salford City Council

"This is a neutral act which does not presume guilt.

"The LEA has drafted in a very experienced primary head, who took early retirement last summer, to support the school through this difficult time.

"I would like to assure parents there will be a full and thorough investigation into the allegations and we will do everything we can to minimise the disruption at the school."

The second case involves Peel Brow Primary School at Ramsbottom in Bury, Greater Manchester.

The head teacher, Mike Duce, was suspended after governors contacted education officers about the handling of the administrations of the SATs.

A temporary head has been brought in to cover for Mr Duce, who has been a head teacher since 1983.

Staff, parents and governors at the school are being interviewed by local authority officers about the allegations and then a report will be presented to the governors, who will decide on the next step.

Bury Council said it would give the governors advice.

A spokesman said: "There were allegations of management irregularities. We can't give details out because the investigation is underway.

"We want to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible, for everyone's sake."

Papers re-checked

The qualifications body - the QCA - says its role is to re-check exam papers from the schools for any sign of wrong-doing.

Officials there have to decide whether any alleged mis-management affected children's results.

If they decide mis-management did make results unreliable, they can adjust or annul the results.

Schools have to notify parents of their child's results by the end of summer term.

The results for all English primary schools are released by the government in September and compiled into league tables.

Earlier this week, the head teacher of a third primary school in Greater Manchester returned to work after being cleared of allegations that tests were mis-managed.

Rod Weatherhead, of Haybrook Primary School in Rochdale, was cleared of any wrong-doing.