A primary school is under investigation after allegations of ‘maladministration’ resulted in a batch of exams results being annulled.
South Norwood Primary School informed parents last week that children who took SATS maths tests in May have had their scores cancelled.
Earlier in the summer parents received a letter stating due to a query regarding possible damage to the packaging of the tests, the school would not receive results until the autumn term.
Parents have expressed their disappointment with the situation citing their children’s hard work has come to nothing.
A Standards and Testing Agency spokesman said after they investigated the administration of the school’s Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests they found evidence that raised doubt over the validity of the maths test results.
The agency then decided to annul the results.
Headteacher at South Norwood Primary, Della Williams, said the school has co-operated fully with Croydon Council in investigating the tests.
Mrs Williams said concerns of maladministration have been raised and they are taking the matter seriously, but would not comment on what actually happened.
On the Department for Education website, maladministration is described as any act that affects the integrity, security or confidentiality of the key stage 2 national curriculum tests which could lead to results that do not reflect the children’s unaided work.
Examples of maladministration include making changes to children’s test scripts before sending them for external marking, giving the children more help than they are allowed or teachers coaching the children before the test after having seen the exam papers.
Sarah Sanders, whose son Kyle had his maths score annulled, said she was disappointed that the school had not explained what the alleged maladministration at the school involved.
She said: "I just find it odd that the children have worked so hard for this but the school has jeopardized it.
"I have written to the school to demand more answers as so far they haven’t told us much. The letters we have got don’t give the reasons why this has happened."
South Norwood councillor Kathy Bee added: "It is important that the school says what has happened after they have completed their investigation.
"The last thing you want is this to be shrouded in mystery as parents past and present, will want to know what has happened."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here