Examiner lost students' scripts

Students might have to take the exam again

An exam board has said one of its examiners cannot account for a number of sixth formers' exam scripts.

The board, Edexcel, said it would give the students an estimated mark or the option of re-taking the A-level exam.

The problem affects 13 students at Haydon School in Pinner, north-west of London, who sat a Vocational A-level in information and communication technology in January.

The results were due out on 14 March - and the school says some of the students' applications for university courses starting this autumn have been affected by not having them.

Edexcel said it was "a rare and unusual set of circumstances".

Unexplained

A spokeswoman said the exam scripts were sent to an experienced examiner, who marked most of them and returned them.

"We chased the examiner for the 13 missing scripts but they were not forthcoming and so we sent in an investigator immediately.

"The examiner could not explain to the investigator what had happened to the scripts," she said.

"Certainly they have not been sent back to Edexcel."

On the basis of the students' previous work and their teachers' marks, the board was able to make a "projection" of the results they would have achieved.

"They will have the option of either accepting this mark or re-sitting.

"We have apologised to the school and to the students.

"The examiner will obviously not be marking for us again," she added.