An ITV documentary has investigated whether some schools are taking duplicitous measures to achieve top marks. The problem is said to have developed after league tables based on exam results were introduced in 1992, putting more pressure on schools to perform well. Schools can obtain more financial rewards if they feature highly in league tables, while the jobs of heads and teachers are at risk if a bad Ofsted inspection means the school goes into special measures.

Tens of thousands of students in universities across Britain have been caught cheating in exams and coursework – and the trend is on the rise, according to an investigation by The Independent. Over the past three years, more than 45,000 students at 80 institutions have been found guilty of "academic misconduct".

Fake degrees from every university in Wales are being sold on the internet for less than £40 a go, a Wales on Sunday investigation has found. The website, called the Fake Certificate Factory, offers degrees from all of Wales' top universities – including Cardiff, Swansea, Glamorgan, Aberystwyth and Bangor. Wales on Sunday was able to buy a degree in English literature bearing the crest of Cardiff University for just £39.95, which we received the next day by post. And for an extra £49.95 we were offered a fake transcript, which provides a detailed breakdown of exam marks supposedly achieved by a student in their final university exams.

Unqualified international students use fraudulent documents to gain admission to universities. The Times Higher Education Supplement reported that an agent had placed "hundreds" of Chinese students in British universities.