Crossword Genius

Backing some students is a mistake (4-2)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

slip-up

'is a mistake' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'backing some students' is the wordplay.
'backing' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'some students' becomes 'pupils' ('pupil' can be a synonym of 'student').
'pupils' back-to-front is 'SLIP-UP'.

(Other definitions for slip-up that I've seen before include "Minor lapse" , "Small error" , "Mistake, blunder" , "Minor inadvertent mistake" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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