7:00am Saturday 4th July 2009
By David Mills
STUDENTS who missed out on taking an exam after invigilators told them they could leave may receive special consideration from markers.
Pupils sitting a GCSE maths exam at Thamesview School in Thong Lane, Gravesend, were asked to leave the premises despite still having a second paper to sit.
After staff realised their error, students were let back into the exam hall to sit the paper.
However eight Year 11 pupils had already left and did not return to do the exam.
Parents of the eight students have been telephoned individually, and the exam board OCR has been informed.
The students were resitting a module they had previously taken, to try and improve their grade.
An OCR spokeswoman said: “OCR is aware of the situation and the school has been advised to apply for special consideration.
“OCR will ensure that no student is disadvantaged as a result of the administration error.”
Special consideration is defined as a post examination allowance to reflect temporary illness, injury or indisposition that occurred at the time of assessment.
The Joint Council for Qualifications, the body which ensures schools carry out exams properly, found that Thamesview School was a very well organised exam centre, following inspections in January.
Headteacher Rhiannon Hughes said: “A minority of students were asked to leave the premises when they should have remained.
“The mistake was quickly realised and the students requested to re-enter the examination room before the paper had been given out.
“The school reported the mistake immediately to the examination board, and telephoned the individual parents of the eight Year 11 students concerned to apologise for this error.
She added: “All eight of the students had previously sat the examination earlier in the year and had also completed the required module.
“We afford our students every chance to achieve beyond expectation, and so although disappointed that the eight students did not complete this resit module, it will not adversely affect their existing result.”
Are you a parent of any of the students affected? Call the newsroom on 01689 885711 or email dmills@london.newsquest.co.uk
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