The qualifications watchdog has angrily rejected claims that more teachers are cheating in national school tests.

A spokesperson for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority says that there is no evidence of more cheating in tests - and the latest unpublished figures suggest a decline in allegations.

There have been reports that teachers, under pressure to improve results, have been unfairly helping pupils in tests taken by seven, 11 and 14 year olds.

This has included allegations of changing answers and showing pupils questions in advance.

But the qualifications authority says these claims are "baseless and without any evidence".

The next figures on cheating in tests will be published in September - but the authority says that so far this year the number of allegations is less than last year.

The authority also attacks the use of figures for allegations - 270 last year - when a large majority of these cases failed to be proven.

Cancelled results

Last year only 11 primary schools had results annulled for cheating, with this figure including cases where individual pupils were caught talking or using a calculator.

"There is no evidence to suggest that this is a problem which is getting worse. Anyone can make an allegation, but it is important that each claim is thoroughly investigated.

"There is a tighter level of vigilance than ever before - and there are more spot checks and a better system for reporting problems. And this shows no evidence for more cheating."

Reports of cheating in tests by teachers, often anecdotal, have been linked to the pressure on schools to perform well in league tables.

Last year, the head of Wyndham Primary School in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Helen Quick, resigned after admitting she had corrected papers in maths and science.

'Extreme pressure'

Miss Quick's union - the National Association of Head Teachers - said at the time that her "error of judgement" was down to extreme pressure, after an inspection had found "serious weaknesses".

Test results for 11 year olds at Merstham Community Primary School near Redhill in Surrey were also annulled because of concerns about the way the tests were carried out.

And the maths test results at Hanover Primary School in Islington, London were quashed after an investigation into a claim that the children had been helped with their answers.