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Hundreds of pupils made to re-sit 11-plus after exam leak

Parents and pupils hoping for a place at two Devonshire grammar schools told the papers are now 'null and void'

Rachael Pells
Education Correspondent
Saturday 08 October 2016 12:26 EDT
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Students hoping to gain places at prestigious grammars Devonport High School (pictured) and Plymouth High School for Girls must first pass the 11-plus entrance exam
Students hoping to gain places at prestigious grammars Devonport High School (pictured) and Plymouth High School for Girls must first pass the 11-plus entrance exam (Devonport High School)

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Hundreds of pupils are being made to re-sit an 11-plus exam after it was revealed some questions had been leaked in advance.

Investigations are being made into claims some children in Plymouth had seen the exam paper before taking the test.

Devon and Cornwall Police said no action will be taken against the alleged security breach, but the exam board G L Assessment is continuing its own inquiry.

The maths and English papers were taken by students hoping to gain places at two grammar schools in the area, Devonport High School for Girls and Plymouth High School for Girls.

Some 400 girls will be made to re-sit the tests after earlier examinations were declared “null and void”.

A letter sent to parents by Plymouth City Council said: “At least one of the papers has been compromised.”

Some pupils reacted to the news positively, however, claiming the second try could help them achieve a higher mark.

Daisy Adams, from Plymouth, told the BBC: “I'm very happy because I might get a better score than I was going to get.”

Her mother, Sharyn Partridge, said: “The re-taking is the best way forward, its the fairest option for all the girls involved.

”It's none of the girls fault what's happened. Everyone re-takes and everyone has a fair chance.“

GL Assessment, which provides the tests, said: “Schools and authorised personnel have a legal duty to abide by our strict security protocols and we would like to reiterate that any breach of that duty will be dealt with."

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