A GCSE exam board has launched an investigation into allegations of cheating in an East Lancashire high school.

The probe is looking at claims that as many as 70 pupils at Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School, Haworth Street, Oswaldtwistle, were given the answers before a maths exams.

But headteacher Paul Trickett said he had been left angry at the ‘false accusations’.

He said the school had not provided any answers but had staged an ‘masterclass’ for the students in the hour before the test.

After the allegations were made to Edexcel yesterday, Mr Trickett held an emergency meeting with the school’s exam officer and head of maths.

Mr Trickett said they had told him pupils were given tips on how to answer questions and last-minute revision.

But he said the teachers did not know the exam questions as the packets containing the papers were not opened until the start of the test.

Asked if an investigation had been launched into allegations that pupils had been given answers, an Edexcel spokesperson confirmed they had received a complaint.

He said: “Edexcel takes all allegations seriously and will investigate them accordingly.”

Mr Trickett said all pupils were given the chance to take part in the ‘masterclass’.

He said: “The deputy head and the head of maths have assured me that everything was above board.

“The exam board can swoop at anytime over the exam period to ensure procedures are followed.

“The exam papers are in plastics bags and were opened in front of students at the beginning of the exam before they were handed out.

“We never leave a subject teacher alone with students before the exam and we would never leave one member of staff with a small group of students.

“These accusations are false and I am very, very angry that an allegation of this nature has been made.

“We have a rigorous system and I am confident when this is over everything will be above board.

”We want our children to do well but we would not, and I stress would not, cheat to do it.”

John Girdley, national executive for teaching union NASUWT for Lancashire, said he had never heard of a school holding a revision session straight before an exam before.

He said: “Schools are under increasing pressure to due to league tables.

“But I cannot comment on this case but we do not condone cheating and we have no belief that cheating has taken place.”