The union says false claims can have devastating results. It accuses the government of taking minimal action.

The government says there is anonymity while claims are checked but pupils must be protected as well as teachers.

A report to be presented at the annual conference of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) this weekend will say evidence suggests that "most teachers and heads have faced false allegations at some point in their careers".

"The official view that these events are extremely rare is not borne out by the available evidence.

"The allegations are often made public, with devastating consequences for the individuals and their families."

The report details cases where heads or teachers have been falsely accused of striking pupils or parents.

The union complains the names of the accused get into the media, while the alleged victim is often anonymous.

Government guidelines - revised in 2005 - say teachers in England accused of abusing children should not automatically be suspended.

Their cases must be dealt with speedily and accused staff should enjoy anonymity while investigations continued.

But teachers and head teachers want the right to anonymity enshrined in the law because the claims are often leaked to the media.

Union general secretary Mick Brookes says in the report: "This inversion of justice has continued for long enough.

"We have clear evidence that lives are being damaged and careers ruined by a failure by the law to adequately protect people who are innocent of accusations levelled against them."

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