Three of Britain’s leading public schools were last night embroiled in an exam “cheating” scandal amid accusations that pupils were told about questions that would feature in test papers.

The Daily Telegraph has learned that Winchester College has suspended its head of art history amid accusations he gave pupils "advance knowledge" on two exam papers.

Laurence Wolff, 56, son of the distinguished scientist Professor Heinz Wolff, was suspended with immediate effect after he was found to have given students “prior information on exam questions on two papers”.

Last night the school confirmed that results for two exams sat by around 13 students had been nullified and grades would be estimated based on coursework and previous exams.

Charterhouse school has also confirmed that it has been investigated by the exam board amid claims that pupils were aware of upcoming questions on an exam. The school added that it had voluntarily reported its concerns to the exam board.

The exam board, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), said last night that there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Charterhouse or any of its pupils.

It comes after Eton College dismissed its head of economics, Mo Tanweer, following allegations that he had shared confidential information about an upcoming economics paper.