The Islamic secondary school in Rotterdam at the centre of an exam cheating scandal is to be taken over by a Christian school group.

The Ibn Ghaldoun school hit the headlines last month when it emerged 27 school leaving exam papers had been stolen and circulated. Several pupils have been arrested in connection with the theft.

There had been calls for the school, which also has financial problems and has been criticised for poor standards, to be closed down.

The school, which may now change its name, will be run by the Christian secondary school association in Rotterdam for several years. According to Nos television, it will become independent again once it has benefited from the expertise of the CVO.