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Grades cancelled at Newry school amid ‘cheating' concerns

Our Lady's Grammar School in Newry. Picture from Google
Our Lady's Grammar School in Newry. Picture from Google Our Lady's Grammar School in Newry. Picture from Google

SEVERAL pupils at a Co Down school have had their grades cancelled amid claims A-level exam questions were shared on social media.

Around 15 sociology students at Our Lady's Grammar School in Newry are affected, the BBC reported.

The school said it would offer support to the pupils "all of whose school careers up to this point were without blemish".

It is understood a pupil who sat an A-level sociology exam earlier than her classmates later shared questions on social media.

The BBC said the school and pupils were told of the sanctions last week.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) said it could not discuss cases of alleged malpractice but said it investigates all accusations of cheating.

"Our advice to any student who receives supposedly leaked details about an exam is to report it to a teacher straight away," a spokesman said.

The school said the students involved had been "sanctioned".

"We regret to say that there was an incident involving some of our students in relation to one of this year's A2 examinations," it said.

"The matter was dealt with by the school and the examination board in line with JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications) guidelines and the students involved have been sanctioned.

"There has been no suggestion of any breach of examination or invigilation protocol by the school."

It added: "We also know the importance of care and compassion in times of difficulty and will offer support as needed to the young women involved, all of whose school careers up to this point were without blemish."