WIREDGOV

The independent exams regulator, Ofqual, today published three statistical reports on the 2009 summer examination series.

The Access Arrangements, Special Consideration and Malpractice reports published today cover the 5.5 million GCSEs, more than 1 million AS qualifications and more than 840,000 A level qualifications awarded and more than 16 million scripts were marked.

The full reports are published on the Ofqual website.

Malpractice penalties were issued to 0.03 per cent of candidates (4,415) for all examinations. In addition awarding organisations imposed malpractice penalties on 88 centre staff and 70 centres.

Commenting on the malpractice statistics, a DCSF spokesman said:

Instances of candidate malpractice exams remain extremely rare. The proportion of penalties issued was 0.03 per cent of the total 16 million exams sat by candidates.

At the same time, we are absolutely clear that any kind of cheating in exams is unacceptable and that centres, staff and students should get the grades that reflect the work that they have put in.

Ofqual and the awarding bodies take all allegations of cheating extremely seriously to ensure the exam system is not compromised.

An Ofqual spokesman said:

Any kind of cheating in exams, be it use of mobile phones, communicating with other candidates or copying their work, compromises the integrity of the exam system. Ofqual is committed to working with the awarding bodies to tackle it in all its forms.

The arrangements that awarding bodies must follow when dealing with allegations or cases of malpractice are clearly set out and anyone who does cheat will face serious penalties, including being disqualified from the exam and losing their grade in that subject.

Centres must report all incidents of malpractice to awarding bodies. Ofqual collects and reports this information to monitor the number of occurrences each year and ensure the processes in place to protect learners are followed correctly.