STRUGGLING schools are being forced to cheat by "borrowing" top teachers to help get through Ofsted inspections, claims a Manchester University expert.

Prof Mel Ainscow says it is often schools in the some of the country's toughest areas that are affected - and it has happened in Greater Manchester.

But he says the schools are being forced to be dishonest due to ever-increasing pressure from government to raise standards. Inspections and testing have introduced a degree of "corruption" in which schools are encouraged to take any measure available to demonstrate apparent improvement, he said.

His claims come after a team from Manchester University spent months visiting inner-city and rural schools in more than 30 local authority areas.

The team has already revealed that some local authorities have advised head teachers to exclude troublesome pupils so their school looks good in inspections.

Heads with disappointing test results have also been told to place pupils on the special needs register to escape criticism.

Statistics

Prof Ainscow said they had not monitored the number of schools "borrowing" teachers and so have no statistics to offer. But he said they concluded "significant" numbers are involved.

"We have seen it for ourselves in schools - including within Greater Manchester - and we have heard others make reference to it while on visits across the country," he said.

He said the teachers involved can be staff, consultants, or people working independently in the education system. They are taken on for brief periods at the time of Ofsted inspections, then return to their normal work.

"It is the dark side of national policy" he said. "It is not the natural instincts of schools to cheat, but the downside of intense government pressure. Once it is known that some schools are doing this, others are tempted to follow suit."

Prof Ainscow added: "What we have at the moment is a deeply unfair system which is increasing the gap between the best schools and those that are struggling most."

An Ofsted spokesman said: "Incidents of teachers being borrowed by schools to increase their chances of a better inspection outcome are very rare.

"When inspectors become aware that such action has been taken, they investigate and reach appropriate judgments about the school's procedures and effectiveness."