Surname headache for school staff

A selection of Smiths at the college

Staff and students at a County Durham college can be forgiven for being confused when the name Smith is called.

For Consett Community Sports College boasts a set of twins, triplets and quadruplets all with the same surname.

The 13-year-old twins Rebecca and Victoria, are identical, as are 14-year-old triplets Laura, Toni and Sharon.

The 750-student college has another six pupils with the surname Smith, plus two teachers and two classroom assistants.

The quadruplets are a little easier for staff to identify as they are boys Neil and Deklan and girls Courtney and Zoe, all aged 14.

'Astonishing and unique'

To ensure the triplets get the right coursework and marks, teachers have taken to sitting them in different parts of the classroom.

Maths teacher Allan McArdle said: "It can be confusing but the nice thing is that all of them are lovely."

Christine Parker, head teacher at the college - which was formerly known as Blackfyne Community School - added: "It's astonishing and possibly unique, I would think.

"To have twins, triplets and quads in the same school is very unusual but to have them all share the same surname is beyond belief.

"It does cause some confusion trying to tell them apart but we think it's a very special thing to have and they are all top-notch students.

"Apart from sharing the same surname, all of them are very friendly and really high performing students."