Priory School.
A SENIOR teacher at a private school has been banned from handling exam material after she tampered with exam papers.
Glynis Bates, senior school head and former examinations officer at Priory School, Whippingham, was suspended last month while a malpractice investigation was carried out by exam board Edexcel.
Following the investigation, an Edexcel spokesman said: “We always take cheating or malpractice extremely seriously and act appropriately when incidents are discovered.
“In this case, we have suspended the individual involved from working with Edexcel examination material, which includes invigilating Edexcel exams.”
Mrs Bates was accused of tampering with two A-level physics papers sat by student Jacob Phillips in January, making alterations and re-writing answers.
A letter sent to parents, principal Edmund Matyjaszek said Mrs Bates had admitted responsibility for ‘a serious breach of exam procedure’, but both school and exam board have refused to confirm details of the malpractice. However, Jacob’s father, Andrew Phillips, and physics teacher, Terry Newton, have spoken out.
Mr Phillips, of St Helens, said: “Mrs Bates is a family friend and I have no wish to crucify her, but people have been pointing the finger at Jacob when he has done nothing wrong. I’m angry at what has happened and I think the school should tell the truth.
“Parents should be given the facts, so they can decide for themselves whether to take any action.”
Mr Newton, of Cowes, whose model answers were used by Mrs Bates to alter Jacob’s exams, said: “When Jacob’s results came back as As, I knew something was wrong. I called in copies of the scripts and I could see what she had done.
“Professionally speaking, I’m upset my work was used to cheat and I think people should know what happened.”
Mr Matyjaszek previously said action had been taken to ensure the integrity of exam procedures and approved by the exam board.
When asked if Mrs Bates would be returning to the school, or how procedures had changed to prevent malpractice incidents from occurring again, he said he had no further comment.
Mrs Bates, of Bembridge, has also declined to comment.
Reporter: emilyp@iwcpmail.co.uk