FUNDAMENTAL errors and delays in administration have, once again, added to the stress levels of teenagers sitting public examinations in secondary schools throughout the county.

Examination officers in secondary schools in and around Watford discovered a series of individual errors in test papers minutes before examinations started.

Edexcel is one national examination board to have made the headlines following recurring errors.

The board, currently used by over 50 percent of secondary schools throughout Watford, could lose its license following complaints lodged by the National Association of Headteachers, which has called for ministers to take action.

However, the examination officer of a Garston secondary school one of four to have reported considerable errors in this year's senior examination papers claims the problem is not exclusive to Edexcel.

Mr Paul Kitchiner, second master of Parmiter's School in High Elms Lane, Garston, said: "Edexcel has hit the headlines for problems with exams this summer, which masks the fact that schools are experiencing significant difficulties with others, including AQA (Assessment Qualification Alliance) and OCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA examination board).

"In the case of Parmiter's, the scale of individual problems with these two boards is greater than any problem we have had with Edexcel."

Mr Kitchiner, a geography teacher, claims the situation is not the result of careless exam officials, but more an indication of examination boards buckling under the pressure of revised curriculum guidelines.

Westfield Community School in Watford, Queens' School in Aldenham Road, Bushey; and Francis Combe School and Community College in Horseshoe Lane, Garston, reported similar difficulties and errors in dealing with Edexcel.

July 10, 2002 17:00