SCIENCE students at Highcliffe School are being forced to repeat time-consuming coursework after teachers set them the wrong tasks.

Just weeks before GCSEs begin in earnest, scores of Year 11 pupils have discovered their chemistry and biology assessments cannot be submitted.

All those taking triple science have been affected and now face weeks of extra work and extra revision classes.

Furious students and parents have slammed the school after discovering the work will take around 20 hours.

They fear it will have an adverse effect not only on science exams but on other subjects to be taken after the Easter break.

“It is a complete and utter farce,” said one mum, who did not wish to be named.

“My son worked really hard on the assessments and thought he had done well. “He is now really despondent and he and his friends now just assume they are going to fail.”

Another parent said his daughter was “very stressed” about the situation and added: “I feel it is total incompetence. She is a very able student and needs good grades to do what she wants to do in sixth form.”

Another said: “They are messing around with 15 and 16-year-olds who find Year 11 very testing. They have enough work to do anyway without having to do even more because the school has messed it up.”

Headteacher Judith Potts said the assessment tasks carried out were supposed to be for 2014. The school contacted the exam board but discovered the work has to be re-done.

She said: “We shall ensure that pupils receive the necessary support to achieve the best possible GCSE results. The work students have already covered will still contribute to their knowledge and understanding of the subject areas.

“Pupils will now need to carry out the second assessment and this will be completed in lesson time. There is still enough time to complete teaching in these subjects but we will also be looking to provide some extra revision classes later if required.”