SCOTTISH teachers face spot checks to find out whether they are helping pupils too much with coursework that counts towards exams.

Scotland's exam body has emailed all headteachers to warn that it has identified cases of inconsistency over the expectation teachers only give "reasonable assistance" to pupils.

As a result, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) will ask its markers to highlight any future instances where assessment conditions have not been applied.

Dr Gill Stewart, director of qualifications development at the SQA, said: "There was some evidence from this year's diet that the assessment conditions specified for coursework were not being consistently applied across centres.

"To ensure equity and fairness for all candidates it is essential the specified conditions are rigorously applied in all centres. I would ask that you reinforce to your staff their professional responsibility to adhere to the assessment conditions for coursework.

"Teachers and lecturers should understand the term "reasonable assistance" and must ensure that the correct assessment conditions are applied. We will investigate all instances where we suspect that the specified conditions have not been applied."

Mark Priestley, a curriculum expert from Stirling University, said the high stakes environment in which teachers now operated meant some could feel pressured to inflate coursework grades.

He said: "We have got a system that places high emphasis on accountability to the extent that assessment is not only high-stakes for kids, but for teachers as well and that is a problem.

"High-stakes assessment leads to the development of cultures in schools where the main emphasis can be on raising grades rather than on education in its broader sense.

"High-stakes accountability is the culprit here because of the pressure it places on schools and teachers."

However, Larry Flanagan, general secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland teaching union, said the email was "insulting".

He said: "They are either suggesting teachers are helping pupil too much or there is too much leeway in terms of redrafts.

"While we think that the SQA guidelines around coursework should be adhered to, if the SQA has evidence of some instances where that is not the case it should deal with them.

"This kind of general approach whereby every school in the country stands accused seems ill-judged and ill-tempered."

Euan Duncan, president of the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association, said the tone of the email would "knock" teachers' self-esteem.

He added: "It is unfortunate that the SQA appears to feel the need to issue this kind of veiled threat at a time when tensions are already running high.

"If there have been shortcomings in one or two centres, perhaps arising from teacher shortages, it would perhaps be better to make direct approaches to those establishments."

The warning comes after the SQA was asked to