A probe into claims of cheating at a school praised by David Cameron has uncovered three cases of exam malpractice, the Standard can reveal.
Whistleblowers claimed that pupils at Kingsdale School in Dulwich were given too much help with their GCSEs and BTec qualifications.
Among allegations were claims that pupils were given access to their papers to make corrections after exams had finished, awarded grades for course work they failed to do and not quarantined after arriving late for exams.
In one of the three malpractice cases, one person received a written warning after the two-year investigation by four major exam boards. But the Joint Council for Qualifications, for the boards, refused to give full details of the cases, saying they “remain confidential”.
A source close to the whistleblowers said they feel “grossly let down” and went on: “The systems and processes of inspection the examining bodies use are inadequate.” The JCQ said the allegations, related to exams taken in summer 2011, were investigated thoroughly, adding: “Sufficient evidence was found to present six cases involving four individuals to a malpractice committee.
“Three malpractice cases were proved, of which two were held not to require sanction, and one individual received a written warning from the awarding body. The other three cases were dismissed.” It said that despite the malpractice findings, the grades given were “a true reflection of candidates’ work”.
The school, described as “brilliant” by the Prime Minister on a visit in 2011, said the investigation found no evidence of “institutional or systemic malpractice or maladministration”, adding: “There can be no doubt that in this respect the school is fully exonerated.
“One warning — the lowest form of sanction — was issued against an individual formerly associated with the school based on evidence supplied by us. The public can have confidence in the integrity of past, current and future examination grades awarded here.”
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