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21/12/2011
Ofqual Orders Paper Re-Write
The exam regulator Ofqual has ordered the re-writing of an exam paper after it emerged some exam boards were offering pre-exam advice to teachers.
The watchdog threatened further action after investigating the reports into exam boards saying it found a "clear breach" of rules at a WJEC exam board seminar about a GCSE ICT paper.
Ofqual said that as a result of the work carried out so far, it had identified that inappropriate information about a GCSE ICT paper from WJEC due to be sat in January had been shared.
A spokesman said that to protect the integrity and security of the qualification the regulators will make sure the paper is withdrawn, amended and sat at a later date.
"This will not impact on when candidates will be able to finish their full GCSE course," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Glenys Stacey, Ofqual Chief Executive, said: "We welcome the work that the Daily Telegraph has done to bring these concerns to light. The information provided is a valuable contribution to our wider programme of work, already underway, into possible conflicts of interests among exam boards.
"This update outlines our initial plans and findings and the actions taken to protect future exams. Where we have found evidence that a question paper has been compromised we have taken action. We are continuing our work to study the material provided by the Daily Telegraph. There is no evidence at this stage that other exams in January are similarly affected."
(DW)
The watchdog threatened further action after investigating the reports into exam boards saying it found a "clear breach" of rules at a WJEC exam board seminar about a GCSE ICT paper.
Ofqual said that as a result of the work carried out so far, it had identified that inappropriate information about a GCSE ICT paper from WJEC due to be sat in January had been shared.
A spokesman said that to protect the integrity and security of the qualification the regulators will make sure the paper is withdrawn, amended and sat at a later date.
"This will not impact on when candidates will be able to finish their full GCSE course," the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, Glenys Stacey, Ofqual Chief Executive, said: "We welcome the work that the Daily Telegraph has done to bring these concerns to light. The information provided is a valuable contribution to our wider programme of work, already underway, into possible conflicts of interests among exam boards.
"This update outlines our initial plans and findings and the actions taken to protect future exams. Where we have found evidence that a question paper has been compromised we have taken action. We are continuing our work to study the material provided by the Daily Telegraph. There is no evidence at this stage that other exams in January are similarly affected."
(DW)
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