The principal of a leading Norfolk boarding school has apologised after sensitive data was accidentally emailed to more than 200 pupils.

An email containing a link to students' personal data was sent to all 209 pupils in Year 13 at Wymondham College last Monday, January 13.

The link contained information about students' results and predicted grades, if they were on the gifted and talented register, whether or not they were a boarder and if they had any learning disabilities.

Principal Melvyn Roffe said it was sent to pupils via an internal email system and that the college has referred itself to the Information Commissioner's Office.

'We are doing the right thing by reporting ourselves.

'One of my colleagues clicked the button to send to all Year 13 students rather than Year 13 tutors.

'There is no evidence that it left our system.

'The member of staff realised the mistake and acted appropriately,' he said.

The college's IT staff removed the email from pupils' inboxes early on Tuesday morning and they were subsequently asked to certify to say that they had not seen the email or saved it in any way.

'We can't prove that it wasn't accessed but we must assume that it may have been.

'The only really sensitive thing was for the students who have special educational needs. It didn't say what those needs were.' Mr Roffe added.

'This is us doing the right thing, we are being transparent. This doesn't happen very often and when it does we have to make sure we deal with it properly.'