Children told 'Santa is not real'

The head teacher said the worksheet will never be used again

A school in Exeter has been forced to apologise after a teacher told a class of nine and ten-year-olds that Father Christmas did not exist.

The children were told that letters posted to Santa in Lapland did not ever get there - but were dealt with by the Royal Mail instead.

The head teacher at Ladysmith Junior School has since apologised.

She said the choice of worksheet was a genuine mistake by a teacher and that the worksheet will never be used again.

"As a school we delight in the magic of childhood and believe that Christmas is a very special time," she said.

"In the last week the children have been enjoying carol singing and a Christmas fair and, in the true spirit of the season, raising money for children at the Ugandan school which we support.

"I have apologised to the parents and this worksheet will never be used in the school again."