MORE than 50 pupils from Redhill's Royal Alexandra and Albert School were this week stranded as far off as Australia and Hong Kong due to the no-fly crisis.

Headmaster Paul Spencer Ellis said: "Many of the teaching and boarding staff made heroic efforts to get back to the UK when their flights were cancelled."

He said they had enabled Year 11 pupils to prepare for their GCSEs by giving them a revision CD-Rom.

Mr Spencer Ellis said: "This has been key to ensuring they are able to continue to prepare for their exams even if they unable to return to school."

Two teachers who were in Ireland managed to make their way back by ferry instead.

Meanwhile at least 50 Caterham School students are marooned overseas, many of them international boarders who went home for the break to the Far East.

Joanna Field, the school's head of human resources, is stranded out in Australia.

And in Horley ,Oakwood School said it was "coping well" despite having five teachers stranded and 21 students unable to fly back.

Of the 21 students, three are Year 11 pupils due to take GCSEs this year.

Reigate College's grand sports hall opening, by England football star Faye White, scheduled for Friday, April 23, has been delayed as the teacher it was being named after, Paul Lindley, is stuck in Japan.