The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word PUPILS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
P
U
P
I
L
S
More clues leading to the result PUPILS
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "students" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case students = pupils.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PUPILS mean?
PUPILS noun- A learner under the supervision of a teacher or professor.
- An orphan who is a minor and under the protection of the state.
- The hole in the middle of the iris of the eye, through which light passes to be focused on the retina.
- The central dark part of an ocellated spot.