Six pupils suspended from their school in Hove for taking part in a peace protest will remain barred after their appeals were turned down.

The six wanted to be allowed back into Blatchington Mill School before their GCSEs in May.

The students received letters this morning informing them of the results of disciplinary hearings held last week.

Parents are now considering calling for a judicial review of the suspensions.

For those not planning to go on to the school's sixth-form college the decision means they will never be allowed back.

Headmaster Neil Hunter was in a meeting this morning and unavailable for comment.

Deputy head Ruth King confirmed the suspensions and said work would be sent home to those affected. She said they would also receive exam revision support at home.

The suspended students include Ross Garwood, Adam Whittaker, Sarah McMurray, Charlie Harrison-White and Luke Lamper.

Their parents are now considering taking legal action against the school in Nevill Avenue.

Glen Whittaker, father of 16-year-old Adam, said: "The whole thing is very unfair and we are considering asking for a judicial review of the decisions.

"I shall be talking to our lawyer in the next few days about the legality of the suspensions and where we go from here.

"We may also take this to the European Court of Human Rights, although by the time it gets there it would be too late as the children would already have taken their exams.

"We do not have the right to take this to a Local Education Authority appeal because of the length of the suspensions.

"In my view, Mr Hunter has deliberately avoided the possibility of an LEA appeal by suspending our children until just after their exams, just within the time limits for an appeal.

"In effect, these amount to permanent exclusions because there is little point in any of them going back after they have taken their exams."

Sally McMurray, mother of 15-year-old Sarah, said: "We have been in touch with a children's advocate in London. He does not think the suspensions were within government guidelines."

Councillor Mark Worgan, chairman of the school's governors, said: "We have a responsibility to ensure the education and welfare of the other students."

The suspended students were among 300 who walked out of school on March 7, chanting anti-war slogans. They were headed off by teachers and most returned to their classes.