Pupils have been disqualified from an exam after blundering teachers wrongly told the children they were allowed to use text books.
The high-achieving students from Kenton School, Newcastle, were taking their English Literature and Language AS-level a year earlier than their peers but were told this week they had automatically failed to pass the exam.
"It was a bad mistake and I have personally apologised to the students affected by it and to their parents.
"But one thing to understand as it happens it will not disadvantage any of those students in their future. That is a bit of good news."
Pupils at the school, which became an academy in May, will be able to retake the exam along with their Year 11 classmates next year.
A spokesman for AQA said: “The guidance we provide to schools and colleges is very clear, so issues like this are quite rare. However, if situations like this arise we need to be fair to all students taking our exams.
"We have no option but to take this action, but we do so knowing that they have further opportunities to sit this unit."
In a letter issued by the Joint Council for Qualifications prior to exams, students are told: "You must not have in your possession any unauthorised material or equipment which might give you an unfair advantage.
"Possession of unauthorised material is breaking the rules and you will be subject to penalty and possible disqualification."
An investigation into the incident has been launched.