A student is suing her former public school for £150,000 because she says a teacher failed to help her achieve a high A-level grade in Latin.

Kate Norfolk, 19, failed her Latin exam and only had her grade elevated to an E on appeal despite consistently being at the top of her class in the subject.

She, along with three others who sat the exam at Hurstpierpoint College, all failed.

Her father, Robert Norfolk, was angry with the school and felt it had failed in its responsibility to educate his daughter.

He was also deeply concerned it would affect her future chances of getting a job as a commercial lawyer with a top law firm.

In one of the first cases of its kind he has issued a 16-page High Court writ claiming an inexperienced teacher failed to prepare Kate properly for her exam.

The writ claims damages for loss of earnings, the return of school fees and the mental anguish Kate has suffered.

Mr Norfolk, who deals in stocks and shares from the study of his farmhouse in Ansty, near Haywards Heath, said: "It was her top subject.

"We had some concerns earlier in the year and had actually been to see the headmaster about the Latin teacher and we were assured everything was okay.

"We went again after the mocks and again we were reassured.

"Four people took the exam and four people failed. A 100 per cent failure rate.

"The school did let her down. After the first exam all four children came out and said they couldn't do this."

Kate, who won a scholarship to Hurstpierpoint College six years ago, had consistently received outstanding reports for her Latin.

She believes her problems began when a new Latin teacher was appointed in the second year of her A-level studies.

Although the teacher had a degree in ancient history he did not have the same in Latin.

Mr Norfolk said a great deal of the syllabus had not been taught to the students, leaving them unprepared for the exams.

He added the students were also told they had two Latin exams and only discovered there was a third when one of the pupils glanced by chance at the school notice board.

He said: "Kate has always wanted to be a corporate lawyer with a top firm but to get short-listed with an interview is incredibly difficult and they look back at A-levels.

"If all the candidates have better A-level results than her, then she won't get in and she is going to have to start at a less prestigious firm on a lower salary.

"It would have been nice if the school at the time said 'we are sorry'. The school has made no offer of recompense. It has taken 15 months and this High Court writ for them to respond.

"Ever since she was four she has been working hard to go to university and get a really good job.

"Just imagine how hard she worked for Latin. The school has put its head in the sand."

Mr Norfolk said headmaster Stephen Meek had written to the examining board and university explaining what had happened.

But since then he had heard nothing.

He said: "I wrote to the headmaster and to some extent he has apologised.

"I know of another local boy who is in the same situation."

Kate, who took a gap year after her A-levels, is now studying ancient and modern history at Exeter University.

The headmaster of Hurstpierpoint College, Stephen Meek, issued a statement this morning.

It said: "The writ refers to events which took place over 15 months ago and we have dealt with any quality issues raised by these events to ensure the consistency of the very high quality of teaching that is the norm throughout the school.

"The facts are these: Kate Norfolk studied for her A-levels at Hurstpierpoint College. She applied to university to read ancient and modern history and was offered a place at Exeter University conditional on receiving 24 points at A-level. In fact she received 18 points and achieved an N classification in Latin.

"Because we were concerned for Kate we explained to the university that her Latin had not been supported in a way that she and we would have expected an as a result I am pleased to say that Exeter University allowed Kate to attend the course of her choice.

"There are elements in the writ that we will strongly contest and we believe the claim to be out of proportion to the circumstances.

"The teacher in question is no longer with us, having taken up an appointment in industry."