Exam chaos as two GCSE and two AS-level papers get lost in post sparking police probe just days before thousands sit tests across Britain
- Four papers vanished just days before the pupils in question are due to sit tests
- French reading and writing papers went missing as well as two Sociology papers
- Those exams are due to start in less than two weeks but now have to be replaced
- Comes as Mathematics pupils in Wales were first to sit 2019’s GCSEs yesterday
Four exam papers for GCSEs and AS Levels have gone missing sparking a police investigation just days before the students are set to sit the tests.
The papers vanished sometime between them being sent by exam board AQA by courier and arriving at one secondary school.
Hundreds of schools and sixth form colleges nationwide have now had to get replacements over fears the questions could be leaked.
Senior staff were sent emails from AQA warning them the exam papers ‘integrity and security’ had been compromised.
Pictured: The email that was sent out as French and Sociology papers went missing in the post
The blunder happened less than a fortnight before the first of the tests are due to take place.
The papers in question were GCSE French Reading and Writing which were due to be sat on May 14 and 17 respectively. The AS Levels were for Sociology exams again on May 14 and then on May 20.
The email read: ‘Dear Colleague, we are sorry to let you know that we need to replace question papers for the following components.
‘We understand that this is short notice, but we’ve received information which raises doubt about the integrity and security of the question papers.
‘The incident was beyond our control and unfortunately means that we need to replace the papers so we can protect the interest of all our students.’
A source said: ‘This has caused a right headache for schools at a very busy time for them.
But hopefully there will be little impact on students.’
Claire Thomson, AQA’s Director of Operations, said: ‘These exam papers were sent to a school but never arrived.
The police and the courier company are both investigating.’
‘We’re replacing these papers and sending new ones to schools and colleges in time for the exams to make sure no-one has an unfair advantage.
‘Our message to students is that there’s nothing for them to worry about. They can carry on with their revision as if nothing’s happened and we’ll take care of it.’
Papers have gone missing just days before the pupils were set to sit their GCSE exams (file photo)