STUDENTS who claim they suffered freezing conditions to take a GCSE exam have launched a petition to make their school turn the heating up.

Youngsters at Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form, Spennymoor, County Durham, complained the school was too cold after sitting the exam yesteday (Monday May 13).

The pupils say they raised the issue with teachers but  received little sympathy. In protest they have launched a petition for fellow pupils to sign to highlight the issue.

A 16-year-old pupil said: “All we ask for is a nice warm environment to do our exam and achieve the best we can but unfortunately we haven't been able to do so.

“The exam hall was freezing cold and I couldn’t concentrate whatsoever.

“No student can strive to the best of their ability when they are forced to do their exams in a sports hall, which is freezing.

“We’ve made a petition and out of 50 students, only four people said that they weren't cold. More people sign it every lesson.”

School staff though have denied that the school was cold and said that the teachers took the complaints seriously.

Kelvin Simpson, deputy headteacher, said: “Despite the under floor heating having been on all weekend and the temperature being checked twice ahead of the exam, a small number of students said they had felt cold.

“Both members of staff who were approached took the comments made very seriously.

“The temperature was checked again before the next exam and several students due to sit that exam were asked whether they were comfortable with it. They confirmed they were.

“We wish all our candidates the very best of luck and are keen to ensure they have the best possible environment in which to sit their exams.”