Teacher fail to notice change of syllabus as students study wrong book for A-Levels
Four students have been studying the wrong book for their A-Level exam.
The pupils from Newmarket College, East Anglia, were supposed to be studying Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' for their English Literature test but had been studying the wrong set text for two years after teachers failed to notice the change of syllabus.
Speaking to the Metro newspaper, Abbie Stallabrass, 18, said: "The teacher was being strangely nice when we went into the classroom.
"Then she said there has been a cock-up and the text you have been studying has not been in the exam. I was so angry I couldn't even speak.
"It makes you worry there are serious problems with communication within the school. We now have to cram about eight months work into 10 hours [of lessons]. I can't believe it."
Dr Bob Cadwalladr, Headmaster, explained: "I am mortified and very upset for the four students involved and their parents. I have talked to the teacher involved about what happened, and why, and how we can avoid anything like this happening again.
"We have made formal representation to the exam board for special consideration for the students involved as none of this was their fault."
A representative from exam board AQA said: "Boards do change set texts from time to time and we ensure that we let schools know.
"Where a school has taught the wrong text by mistake, we work with them to find a solution so that students aren't disadvantaged.
"In this case, we have made arrangements that students will be able to refer to Dracula in part of their responses and their answers will be marked as normal."
