Teachers demand answers from Edexcel

In bid to vent their frustration a group of school principals in Northern Ireland have publicly complained about their “continuing battle” with Edexcel over exam marks and coursework.

The teachers, mostly from a range of grammar schools across the province, have launched a stinging attack against the English exam body, Edexcel, because of poor results in last summer’s religious studies AS levels.

Schools affected include Enniskillen Collegiate; St Coleman’s College, Newry; Down High School, Downpatrick; Rathmore Grammar School, Belfast and Sullivan Upper, Hollywood.

Teachers have expressed many grievances against Edexcel and range from wrong coursework marks, to mistaken exam grades and the failure by Edexcel to return pupils’ coursework.

It is believed about 200 pupils received much lower than expected AS grades.

Principal of Down High School Jack Ferris said that despite extensive efforts to contact authorities within Edexcel for an explanation they had so far proved to be “elusive”. Mr Ferris also said teachers were given “a bad briefing” from Edexcel about the structure of the AS format which in turn damaged their pupils' chances of getting good results. He added that if Edexcel were a business, “they would be out of business.”

The province's exams body, the CCEA - which is also the regulatory body for other exam boards used in Northern Ireland - has also experienced difficulty in contacting heads at Edexcel.

A spokesman for CCEA said they requested a meeting with Edexcel before Christmas but had so far not received a response.

In a statement the CCEA said the issues have not been resolved and it would continue to pursue them as a matter or urgency. Edexcel was asked to comment on the allegations but has not yet responded. SDLP spokesperson on Education, Patricia Lewsley said she would be meeting with the CCEA as a matter of urgency. (AMcE)