The Educational Institute of Scotland says that developments in England, designed to improve classroom standards, are in danger of having the opposite effect on Scottish schools.

It argues that setting targets for exam results results in a culture of "blame and punishment rather than praise and encouragement".

'Schools are not businesses'

The union's General Secretary, Ronnie Smith, said the policies reflected management practices in business and industry.

"Schools are not businesses and school work and exam performance cannot be equated with commercial and business outcomes," he said.

"In reality, the heavy-handed attempt to apply such approaches to schools and colleges has often proved to be inimical to real innovation, to improving the quality of individual pupils' work and to meeting the real needs of children, educational establishments and communities."

The demand for an end to "English influence" is part of the union's 40-point wish list for the new Scottish Parliament, which is due to be elected in May.