26 June 2012 Last updated at 17:45 ET

Kenton School book in exam blunder disqualifies students

Kenton School became an academy in May

Dozens of students at a Newcastle school have been disqualified from an exam following a blunder by teachers.

Fifty Year 11 pupils at Kenton School who passed English GCSEs with high grades last year were given a chance to take AS Level exams a year early.

They were wrongly told they could take the studied book into the exam. When the mistake came to light the exam board said it had to disqualify them.

The school's head said an inquiry was ongoing and the pupils could resit.

Awarding body AQA said that after being contacted by the school about the use of "unauthorised material" it had no choice.

'Very disappointing'

A spokeswoman said: "Issues like this are quite rare, however, if situations like this arise we need to be fair to all students taking our exams.

"We therefore, unfortunately, have no option but to take this action, but we do so knowing that they have further opportunities to sit this unit."

Head teacher David Pearmain said: "Staff made a mistake, they misread examination requirements and believed this was an open book examination.

"It was a bad mistake but a human error."

He described the students as "very disappointed".

"Personally as head teacher, I've apologised to each of the students.

"The hard work they put into this exam doesn't immediately come to anything.

"They can take it again next January if they choose to do so, and I hope they do, but it is nonetheless very disappointing for them."

He said he could not comment on what would happen to the person or persons responsible.

"This is an internal matter between employer and employee," he said.

"We will be investigating exactly how it took place, because it shouldn't have happened, and we will deal with it appropriately."