One-up-mumship! 50 telltale signs you're a pushy mother are revealed as four in five admit they feel pressure to impress teachers

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A cake sale has been announced at your children’s school.

Do you a) forget all about it then guiltily send your little ones in with Mr Kipling’s finest, or, b) rustle up a creation that would win you the next series of Bake Off?

If the second option sounds familiar, you have been rumbled – you are a pushy mother who would do anything to get one up on the opposition.

The top 50 secret tactics of competitive mothers have been revealed in a study of 1,400 British women, with four out of ten women saying they were concerned about being the 'coolest' mum (file picture, posed by model)

The top 50 secret tactics of competitive mums have been revealed in a study of 1,400 British women – and their practices are widespread and really rather dastardly.

Four out of five mothers admitted they feel incredible pressure to impress teachers. 

As a result many spend a fortune on end-of-term presents for staff and volunteer to help out in class and on school trips at every opportunity.

Embarrassingly for their children they will shout out the Christian name of teachers at the school gates, just to make everyone think they are on good terms with each other. 

When it comes to homework, they will read with their little ones ten times a week instead of the recommended five, and make them practise their spellings over and over again so they come top in class. 

The school play offers a prime opportunity to show prowess for six in ten women.

After spending hours making their child’s costume, they will be first in the queue on the opening night to bag front row seats.

Mothers who throw the biggest celebrations for their child, who boast about their achievements on Facebook and spoil their young with the latest gadgets are also among the pushiest, the study found (file picture, posed)

Four in ten women said they were concerned about being the ‘coolest’ mum among their little one’s friends, and let them eat what they want and make as much mess as they want when they come round for tea.

And while they are occupied, the most competitive women will check the visitor’s book bag to see what reading or spelling level they are on.

Other telltale signs include constantly bragging about their child’s achievements on Facebook and trying to win the mum’s race at sports day every year.

The research was carried out to mark today’s release of Mirrorball Films’ Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?! on DVD and Blu-ray.