A BOURNEMOUTH University professor who resigned in protest in a row over the alleged “dumbing down” of degrees was treated unfairly, the Court of Appeal has ruled.

Experienced teacher and exam marker, Professor Paul Buckland, failed 26 of his 60 second-year students at the school of conservation sciences because they did not reach the pass mark. All but three ended up passing after other markers were brought in.

Prof Buckland quit in February 2007. An employment tribunal found the university’s actions breached his contract.

That decision was overturned by an appeal tribunal in March, which said the university had remedied the situation by holding an internal inquiry.

Three Appeal Court judges have now ruled the internal inquiry made no difference to the case and ordered the university to pay sizeable undisclosed costs. It may also have to pay 63-year-old Prof Buckland – who now lives in Yorkshire – more compensation.