31/05/2013
A-Level Students Taught Wrong Exam Material
Pupils at a school in Suffolk have been told they have been taught the wrong text for their English A-level exam, just two weeks before they were due to sit the paper.
Sixth-formers at Newmarket College were studying the Bram Stoker's Gothic text of Dracula, when they should have been studying Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
Abbie Stallabrass, who is one of the affected pupils, said the "bombshell was dropped" three days before their half-term holiday.
It is understood the exam board AQA has been notified of the error and has insisted the pupils would not be disadvantaged.
Miss Stallabrass said the error was discovered by another English teacher at the school who was making preparations for next year.
She said: "He noticed Dracula had been dropped from the curriculum and we should have been studying Frankenstein.
"Our teacher came in and seemed unusually nice and chirpy, and then she dropped the bombshell. It was crazy. We were pretty horrified.
"On Friday another teacher gave us a five-hour intensive session on Frankenstein, which was incredibly stressful but it did get us up to speed with the story."
The class had been studying Dracula for eight months, but now only have ten hours to learn the proper exam text.
Earlier this year, the school was rated "inadequate" in an Ofsted report.
(JP)
Sixth-formers at Newmarket College were studying the Bram Stoker's Gothic text of Dracula, when they should have been studying Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
Abbie Stallabrass, who is one of the affected pupils, said the "bombshell was dropped" three days before their half-term holiday.
It is understood the exam board AQA has been notified of the error and has insisted the pupils would not be disadvantaged.
Miss Stallabrass said the error was discovered by another English teacher at the school who was making preparations for next year.
She said: "He noticed Dracula had been dropped from the curriculum and we should have been studying Frankenstein.
"Our teacher came in and seemed unusually nice and chirpy, and then she dropped the bombshell. It was crazy. We were pretty horrified.
"On Friday another teacher gave us a five-hour intensive session on Frankenstein, which was incredibly stressful but it did get us up to speed with the story."
The class had been studying Dracula for eight months, but now only have ten hours to learn the proper exam text.
Earlier this year, the school was rated "inadequate" in an Ofsted report.
(JP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
03 July 2012
Stop Exam Boards Fighting To Offer The Easiest Exam, Says Education Committee
After a long inquiry the UK Parliaments Education Committee has concluded that competition between exam boards creates significant pressure to drive down standards in exams and that the time is right for fundamental reform.
Stop Exam Boards Fighting To Offer The Easiest Exam, Says Education Committee
After a long inquiry the UK Parliaments Education Committee has concluded that competition between exam boards creates significant pressure to drive down standards in exams and that the time is right for fundamental reform.
09 May 2005
GCSE exam papers to be replaced
Around half a million GCSE exam papers are being replaced after papers were stolen from one delivery van and more were reported as ‘lost’ from another van. The papers from the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) examination board are for exams in French, science and history.
GCSE exam papers to be replaced
Around half a million GCSE exam papers are being replaced after papers were stolen from one delivery van and more were reported as ‘lost’ from another van. The papers from the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) examination board are for exams in French, science and history.
17 September 2012
Gove To Reveal GCSE Reform Plan
Reforms of the GCSE exam system in England will see just one single end-of-course exam, fewer top grades and a separate exam board for each subject. Has plans for the reform are confirm by education secretary Michael Gove, pupils who started secondary school this year will be the first to take the revised exams in 2017.
Gove To Reveal GCSE Reform Plan
Reforms of the GCSE exam system in England will see just one single end-of-course exam, fewer top grades and a separate exam board for each subject. Has plans for the reform are confirm by education secretary Michael Gove, pupils who started secondary school this year will be the first to take the revised exams in 2017.
21 August 2008
GCSE Students Celebrate Exam Success
GCSE students are celebrating top grades in the biggest annual rise since 1990. As 750,000 teenagers collect their results, it has emerged that entries awarded at least a C increased more than two percentage points to 65.7%. This year, 65.7% of the exams taken were awarded A* to C grades, a rise of 2.4% from 63.
GCSE Students Celebrate Exam Success
GCSE students are celebrating top grades in the biggest annual rise since 1990. As 750,000 teenagers collect their results, it has emerged that entries awarded at least a C increased more than two percentage points to 65.7%. This year, 65.7% of the exams taken were awarded A* to C grades, a rise of 2.4% from 63.
05 December 2013
£1bn Towards Free School Meals
£1bn is being unlocked to fund the Department of Education's free school meals commitment. The news, announced by deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, follows an announcement in September that every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools will receive a free school lunch.
£1bn Towards Free School Meals
£1bn is being unlocked to fund the Department of Education's free school meals commitment. The news, announced by deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, follows an announcement in September that every child in reception, year 1 and year 2 in state-funded schools will receive a free school lunch.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:After a dry start this morning rain will spread from the northwest across all parts. This afternoon will be dull with some patchy rain and drizzle. Becoming much milder through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:A cloudy evening and night with a little light rain or drizzle, perhaps some clear periods developing along the east coast. A very mild night everywhere. Minimum temperature 10 °C.