Probe launched into claims of GCSE exams cheating at leading Co Armagh school
A PROBE is under way into alleged exam cheating at a school in Co Armagh.
The BBC reported that the claims centre around GCSE English and maths examinations at St Patrick’s High School in Keady in the summer of 2017.
The school said it was “co-operating fully” and there was “no suggestion of widespread malpractice”.
The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment have been informed.
St Patrick’s — the winner of a Times Educational Supplement award for best secondary school in 2015 — said the allegations concern a “small number of pupils entitled to additional access arrangements”.
In a statement to the broad- caster, the school said: “The principal and board of governors acted swiftly on receipt of the allegations and immediately elected to invite independent external assessors to examine the arrangements for and conduct of these examinations.
“There is no suggestion of systemic or widespread malpractice in the conduct of ex- aminations at St Patrick’s High School.
“We have put in place additional arrangements for the supervision of pupils entitled to access arrangements in order to ensure confidence in the integrity of the January 2018 GCSE modules.”
CCEA said: “We do not comment on allegations of mal- practice”. According to reports, the allegations came to light in November.
The external investigation is expected to be completed this month before the findings are handed to CCEA.
It’s understood external examiners will be brought in for the overseeing of some January exams.