An "urgent" investigation has been ordered into the number of under-performing pupils taken off roll from Birmingham school's ahead of this summer's GCSE exams.

The survey has been prompted by fears that Year 11 youngsters are being removed to boost the league table positions of secondary schools in the city.

It follows revelations that 427 pupils in Year 11 were taken off roll from 63 secondaries between September 2004 and January 2005 just months before they were due to sit GCSEs.

The removal - 3.6 per cent of the total due to sit last summer's tests - boosted the city's GCSE five A* to C pass rate by more than one percentage point last year.

Two schools - The College High in Erdington and Kings Norton High - removed 88 pupils between them resulting in a tripling of their pass rates.

Birmingham's education scrutiny committee yesterday heard a report from the authority into Year 11 pupils taken off roll during the previous academic year.

It was ordered after The Post highlighted the issue.

Committee chairman Coun Jon Hunt (Lib Dem Perry Barr) said: "We need an urgent review of emerging evidence from this year to make sure there are no unrecognised issues and trends."

The committee also raised concern over the unknown whereabouts of 111 removed pupils.

City education chiefs admitted procedures and guidance to schools needed to be improved and has agreed to carry out the new review.

Of the 427 pupils out of 12,342 Year 11 pupils taken off roll between September 2004 and January 2005, 201 were referred to alternative educational provision.

Most of these - 57 per cent - failed to gain any qualifications. Of the others, 81 moved out of the city, 17 refused to attend school, six were at independent schools and three had long term illness.

Eight were listed as being in custody. Out of the 'missing' 111, 32 were not reported to the education welfare officers.

The College High took 56 pupils off roll and Kings Norton High removed 32.

Katherine Ryan, Birmingham's principal adviser to secondary schools said: "They were exceptionally vulnerable schools facing very difficult circumstances. There will always be a suspicion these schools have taken that action driven by league tables.

"From my knowledge of The College High I would say that is not the case."