AN exam board has hit back at claims that its “blunders” caused the loss of coursework belonging to students at a top Essex school.

Elliot Furniss

AN exam board has hit back at claims that its “blunders” caused the loss of coursework belonging to students at a top Essex school.

Colchester County High School for Girls has accused exam board Edexcel of mistakes that led to teachers having to re-send pupils' assignments in a bid to meet deadlines - leaving question marks hanging over the results.

The school claims it was sent the wrong address labels and was not told until after the GCSE chemistry and physics work had been posted - and just one day before the May 2 deadline - that it should have been sent to a different location.

But Edexcel claims the first copies of the coursework were received and moderated and results will be available for the students.

A spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that this school did have a change of moderator. They were contacted on April 28 informing them of this.

“The school's work has been moderated and does have final marks for all six internally assessed activities and will therefore be receiving results on results day. This work is not lost.”

She said the marks were for the original package sent and encouraged the school to contact them if any more problems were experienced.

Schools are not able to send work by recorded or special delivery and when contacted about the loss, Royal Mail sent out two books of stamps in way of compensation.

However headteacher Elizabeth Ward said it was the second year in a row the school had experienced problems with Edexcel, which has charged the school more than £11,000 for its services this summer.

She said: “Students and their teachers work hard throughout the year, producing excellent work, only to have their efforts frustrated by Edexcel staff who seem unable or unwilling to focus upon the individual.

“Surely a school or college could become a base to receive students' work for collection by examiners, thus alleviating the need for posting and removing the possibility of loss.”

She said that despite requests Edexcel had still not confirmed the receipt of the second set of coursework.