Four Wolverhampton pupils given wrong GCSE papers

Pupils who were supposed to be sitting their 'core science' exam were instead given a full GCSE biology paper by teachers at St Peter's Collegiate School.

To get a core science qualification, a student sits exams in biology, physics and chemistry. These combine to become the core science GCSE. These exams are sat at the end of year 10.The full GCSE in science is different however, and is more advanced than that of a core science paper, sat by pupils who are in year 11.

Jessica Mae Perry, aged 15, was one of the pupils given the full paper. She joined hundreds of pupils in the exam hall on May 26.

She sat the exam paper she was given, which was then checked by a teacher, who did not spot the error. The paper was then sent off to be marked.

It was only when Jessica Mae got home and told her mother the paper she had sat that she realised what had happened.

"I think it's despicable" mother Gemma Perry, aged 34 of Claregate said. "She was aiming for an A in the subject and now we have no idea what she'll come out with because she's done it a year early. Why she was put in the same exam hall with pupils doing the full GCSE I do not know."

The news comes as the school made eight teachers redundant earlier this year, closing in April for two days of strike action over pay.

"I know the school has had it's ups and down's recently, but this is just not acceptable."

A spokesperson for St Peter's Collegiate school said: "Jessica Mae Perry was one of four students given the incorrect GCSE Biology examination paper prior to half term - the students were given the biology paper instead of the core science paper.

"As soon as the error was discovered the School Examinations Officer contacted the Examination Board to request special considerations be applied for those students affected.

"A senior member of the school leadership team personally spoke to all of the parents concerned to offer sincere apologies for the error. The parents were informed of what the Examination Board had proposed to ensure that the students were not penalised for this error. Everything possible was done as quickly as possible by the school in order to try to rectify what was human error.

"A number of checks are always in place before each examination, however on this occasion the exam invigilators did not identify that an error had been made. Further measures have been put in place to ensure that there is no repeat of the incident."