Head resigns over claims of cheating

A primary school headteacher has resigned after results in maths and science tests achieved by 61 of his pupils were quashed amid allegations of cheating.

David Hopkins, head of Whiteknights School in Berkshire, has left the school and his deputy has taken over as acting head until the end of term, the local education authority said.

His departure came after a town hall education department inspector visiting the school earlier this month uncovered " problems" in the SATs tests for 11-year-olds and alerted the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.

After an investigation, the QCA annulled the school's maths and science results. English results and those for SATs taken by seven-year-olds will stand.

Local education officials and the QCA refused to comment on the "irregularities", but it is understood pupils were invited to make changes to answers after the tests should have finished.

Wokingham's education director Andy Roberts said: "We are contacting all of the secondary schools the pupils will be moving to and will be making sure that they are not affected by the missing test scores."