"I'm very concerned that individual pupils will suffer as a result of this, " said Mr O'Kane, general secretary of the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers.

BBC: A-level marking 'grossly unjust'

The general secretary of the National Association of head Teachers, David Hart, said he still thought prosecutions were a necessary deterrent.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | Truancy prosecutions dropped

Russell Hobby, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers said teachers should not be made scapegoats for the system.

BBC: Pressurised teachers 'marked GCSE too generously'