School cheat scandal spreads
Winchester College and Charterhouse dragged into row that has already engulfed Eton
THREE of Britain’s leading public schools were last night embroiled in an exam “cheating” scandal amid accusations that pupils were told about questions that would feature in test papers.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt that Winchester College has suspended its head of art history after he was accused of giving pupils “advance knowledge” on two exam papers. Laurence Wolff, 56, son of the distinguished scientist Prof Heinz Wolff, was suspended with immediate effect after he was found to have given students “prior information on exam questions on two papers”.
Last night the school confirmed that results for two exams sat by about 13 students had been nullified and grades would be estimated based on coursework and previous exams.
Charterhouse school has also confirmed that it has been investigated by the exam board amid claims that pupils were aware of upcoming questions on an exam. The exam board, Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), has since confirmed that there is no evidence to suggest wrongdoing on the part of Charterhouse or its pupils.
It comes after Eton College dismissed Mo Tanweer, its head of economics, following allegations that he had shared confidential information about an upcoming economics paper.
Last night the Department for Education confirmed that Ofqual, the exam regulator, was now involved in the investigation. A spokesman said: “Parents and students must be able to have faith in the exam system. Any suggestion of malpractice is concerning and should be looked into. Cambridge International Examinations board are dealing with the incidents.”
In the Eton and Winchester cases, both teachers were also working as examiners at CIE, the body which sets questions for the ‘Pre U’ exams – the Alevel equivalents taken by independent school pupils ahead of entry to university. Education experts said last night that the dual role was a clear conflict of interest and called for ministers to close the loophole, which often allows teachers to supplement their income and bolster their CVS.
Rob Halfon, a Conservative MP and chairman of the education select committee, said: “To have one example is bad enough but to have two in some of Britain’s top private schools is more worrying. Questions need to be asked about whether this is more widespread and whether there is a conflict of interest over this practice.”
Sir Anthony Seldon, the former headmaster at Wellington College, said the incidents were “deeply concerning”.
“There needs to be an iron wall between the setting of these exams and the way they are marked,” he said.
“There are immense pressures on schools to meet these very marginal frontiers in exams, and the system has to be watertight. People assessing and
designing papers should not under any circumstances be involved in teaching them. It’s an impossible situation.”
The exam scandal began last week when it emerged that Eton pupils studying economics had their results for the paper in question nullified. Teachers had to write to universities to assure them that the boys who took the exam were in no way culpable.
It is understood that the controversy at Winchester College came to light after a student at another school informed teachers that boys from Winchester had been discussing the contents of the upcoming exam online. Teachers at the school then pursued the matter with Winchester College and the exam board, resulting in the investigation.
There is no suggestion that any pupils or other members of staff at any of the schools are guilty of wrongdoing.
Tim Hands, headmaster at Winchester College, said: “The College has treated this matter very seriously, and has worked closely with the Examination Board throughout. It greatly regrets what has happened. No boy was to blame, and the Board used standard procedures to award final grades.
“One teacher was suspended and has now retired from the school.”
Mr Wolff was unavailable for comment, despite repeated attempts by this newspaper to contact him.
A spokesman for CIE said: “We take very seriously our duties to ensure that all of our examinations are fair, and that all students receive an appropriate and valid grade. We sympathise with the students who have been affected through no fault of their own.”
A Charterhouse spokesman said: “Charterhouse staff were made aware of concerns raised by pupils and referred the matter to CIE. We have been assured by CIE that our pupils have not been affected. All Charterhouse pupils who sat the Pre U Economics examinations were awarded their marks for the papers in the normal way.”