TWO Greek Cypriot refugees who were banned from a Teignmouth school in March 1995, sparking a walkout by other pupils, said they would not be going back, despite an admission by the education authority that it had made a blunder.

Only hours before the turnaround was announced, the two 15-year-old cousins, Vass Markou and Paul Michali, were enrolled at an Exeter private school.

The change of heart came after day-long talks between the county education authority and the Home Office.

The pair spent only 10 days at the Teignmouth Secondary Modern School before being ordered to leave by the education authority, which said it was acting on Home Office instructions.

Feeling over the ban ran so high that 200 pupils staged a walkout and organised a petition.

A Home Office spokesman said they knew nothing about the ban, and a few hours later came a statement from the county council.

‘Our South Devon Area Education Office acted in good faith on telephone instructions from the Home Office immigration department, based on an interpretation of the immigration rules.We have been in touch with the Home Office to confirm the instruction, and it now seems that the interpretion we received was wrong.

‘This means we are not barred from offering a free education to the Cypriot boys and were happy to admit them to the school for as long as they are in the town.’

The boys’ uncle, Steve Michaels, a restaurant and public house owner, who brought them to this country after their home was over-run by the Turks, said he was delighted with the news. It confirmed his faith in British justice.

‘We knew all along we were right. Yesterday morning the headmaster of St Winifred’s School in Exeter telephoned me after reading of our troubles, and offered the boys places at the school.

‘As the boys had been hanging around for weeks doing nothing, and I did not know how long the ban would last, we decided to accept the kind offer.

‘I have bought them uniforms costing a total of £70 and they started there today. They can stay on at the school until they are 18 which is a great advantage.

‘I said all along I was willing to pay something towards their education, but all the private schools I was told about the by the education authority were too expensive.

‘The fees at this school, however, are reasonable and within my means.

‘I am extremely grateful to the Teignmouth school for all the support they gave me – from the headmaster to the pupils.

They were all magnificent and to show my appreaction I have sent them a cheque for £50 towards school funds.’