Students will be given a full grade based on their coursework marks

Pupils from the Wakeman School, in Shrewsbury, should have sat the written geography paper on Monday, the date set by the examination board.

But the school wrongly scheduled it for Thursday.

Head teacher Simon Blackburn has apologised and says all students affected will be given a full grade based on their coursework.

I want to reassure everyone concerned that the exam board will take this into account, and that pupils' grades should not suffer as a result Head teacher Simon Blackburn

"I very much regret that pupils, who had studied hard, were unable to sit the full examination," Mr Blackburn said in a statement.

"I want to reassure everyone concerned that the exam board will take this into account, and that pupils' grades should not suffer as a result.

"I apologise for this mistake at the school and I want to assure all pupils and parents that a thorough investigation has taken place, and that all remaining exams have been thoroughly checked for accuracy, to make sure that the mistake will not be repeated."

A spokesman for Shropshire County Council said the exam board had said the 71 students would not suffer from an error made by the school.

"Upon receipt of the necessary documentation, the exam board will give a full GCSE grade to every student based on their coursework marks and their marks for a decision-making paper which was taken in January," he said.

It is understood that the error occurred after the pupils were originally entered for a test to be taken on 5 June.