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its Oxford-based A-IeveI syllabuses and its Cambridge computer systems: candidate
entries were unreliable, examination materials late in arriving and results frequently
full of errors. The new organisation had failed to produce common stationery and
compatible computer systems. Continuing complaints led QCA to investigate the
problems at OCR. In December 2000 it produced a report that confirmed that there
had been problems in 1999 and listed ‘action points’ following monitoring of the
process in summer 2000 [See Figure 4.4 above]
Despite OCR’s weaknesses, it was EdexceI which achieved the dubious distinction of
becoming media shorthand for incompetence, disorganisation and unreliability. This
resulted from a series of highly publicised errors. In March 2001, 10 000 students
received incorrect results for Key Skills tests, and were offered re-sits - an admission
that the results were irretrievably flawed. In June, a mathematics paper was somehow
stolen and offered for sale prior to the examination. Despite the forced resignation of
its ChiefExecutive in September 2001, Edexcel in January 2002 produced an AS-
Ievel mathematics examination paper containing an error which was obvious to
candidates. These lapses seriously undermined not only that organisation’s reputation
but wider confidence in the whole system when presented by the press as in Rebecca
Smithers’ article of 29 January 2002 in Education Guardian fSee Figure 4.8)
An Edexcel official later attributed such problems to “the enormous logistic pressure
within the awarding bodies” resulting from Curriculum 2000:
It meant, I think, far too much work for staff with no increase in resources....
One of the consequences were [sic] poorly proof-read papers at the end of the
day.... We ended up with an exam paper that came from one series of changes
and an answer book which reproduced some of the questions from another set.
And that was the famous ‘AS maths disaster ’.... Whilst the effect on the students
at the end of the day was virtually nil, the political damage to the system and the
loss of public confidence was bad.
(Edexcel2 2003)