Two primary school teachers have been disciplined over exam cheating.

Pupils at Woodstock Primary School were given special tuition after teacher Charlotte Johnston found out the contents of a science test from a friend at another school.

Miss Johnston and deputy head Karen Metcalfe - who was aware of some of the details of the affair - were both reprimanded.

But parent governor Sue Naylor has resigned in protest, claiming the matter should have been dealt with more severely.

Yesterday governors admitted a revision lesson held for 11-year-olds by Miss Johnston included topics which were to appear in the national curriculum science test in May.

Ms Metcalfe knew her colleague had the information but claimed she was unaware it was to be used in the revision session.

The cheating came to light after pupils' high scores contrasted with disappointing results in maths and English.

Governors voted in July to publish all the exam results to highlight what had gone on and an explanation of what happened has been sent to parents.

In a statement about the "irregularities", the governors said: "Towards the end of the summer term the governors were made aware that there had been irregularities in the revision schedule for the Key Stage 2 Science SATS paper.

"After two governors' meetings, disciplinary action against the staff involved was decided on. This has now been taken.

"For the future wellbeing of the school, The governors consider the matter to be closed and no further statements will be given." Headteacher Andrew Walkey told the Oxford Mail: "Both teachers are very upset and very apologetic about the whole business. They have apologised to me and to the whole staff about what happened."

But former parent governor Mrs Naylor said the affair was "a betrayal of trust" which "compromised the integrity which parents are entitled to expect from those professionals having custody of children's education.

She added: "As a parent member of the governing body I felt that formal disciplinary action should be instigated against senior management. involved who I regard as being guilty of behaviour amounting to gross misconduct within guidelines laid down by Oxfordshire County Council in their disciplinary procedures. For all employees My fellow governors did not wish to pursue such a course of action and I felt I had no option but to resign which I did in a letter to the chair dated July 21."

Another governor, the Rev Roger Humphreys, said: "Certainly prior knowledge was included in the revision session.

"We would not have reprimanded two members of staff if we did not regret what happened. All we can do is hope that reprimand will make sure it never happens again."

John Mitchell, spokesman for the county education department, said: "We certainly regard the incident as regrettable but we're now looking towards the future. We're pleased the matter is in the open and the key thing as far as we're concerned is that the educational future of pupils concerned has in no way been compromised."

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