It is the stuff of teachers' nightmares - to find yourself a pupil in your own school.

If that wasn't bad enough, you're given a dressing down from a pupil who has become headteacher.

But at St Peter's Primary School in Shoreham this was reality for head Catherine Walker after she swapped roles with a pupil.

Mrs Walker arrived for lessons yesterday.

While she knuckled down to maths and paper recycling duty, pupil Jordan Foster, 11, took over her job.

Things were going well until Mrs Walker was reprimanded by Jordan for not following school uniform rules.

Although she wore grey trousers, white shirt and navy school jumper, her shirt was untucked and she wore dangly earrings and nail varnish.

Jordan, dressed in a smart dark suit, said: "Maybe she thinks I was a bit harsh but I think I was fair because she wasn't wearing the right uniform."

Mrs Walker agreed to the swap after it was suggested by a pupil at the school in Sullington Way a few months ago.

She said: "We place a great deal of value on the importance of listening to pupils' views and suggestions. This has given the children the chance to increase their responsibilities."

The role-switch rounded off a themed media week where the children met staff working on a national magazine and on Channel 4's Paul O'Grady show.

They also found out how The Argus was produced during a tour of the paper's building in Hollingbury, Brighton.

Mrs Walker said the swap gave a valuable insight into school life from a pupil's perspective.

The school council, comprising pupil representatives, considered almost 100 applications for the one-day role as headteacher. They interviewed a shortlist of 11.

Jordan was appointed head while Nadia Luhr, nine, was made deputy head for the day.

They led the full school assembly and gave out certificates and stickers, performed playground duty at break times and met parents.

Jordan has set his sights on becoming a headteacher.

He said: "I've really enjoyed it. I'd like to do it in the future - but I'd probably have to be an ordinary teacher first."