Exams computer badly damaged

The SQA said results were not affected

Scotland's exams body has given assurances that a computer accident will not affect this year's results.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority revealed that a £350,000 back-up computer had been "severely damaged" in an accident at its Dalkeith data processing centre two weeks ago.

However, a spokesman insisted that the incident would "in no way affect the delivery of this year's exam results".

Results are due out in the middle of August

He said the accident happened after a contractor wrongly wired one of two new servers as it was being powered up to replicate data already held on other computers.

He said: "The servers were to supplement our existing IBM system for processing the results and data needed for the delivery of national qualifications certificates.

"While the existing system is more than capable of delivering this year's results, this acquisition is a prudent move, providing effective back-up."

The spokesman said the second server had been correctly installed since the incident and the damaged one would not be replaced until after this year's results have been published.

He also stressed that the computer was "nowhere near any of this year's data".

Qualified marker

The SQA has been under continual scrutiny following last year's results fiasco which saw thousands of pupils receiving inaccurate or delayed results.

Last week it confirmed that it had launched an inquiry after exam papers were marked by an unqualified person.

The SQA said the exam papers were marked again by a qualified marker and none of the results had to be changed.

The results are due out in mid-August