Police probe 11-plus exams 'cheating'
POLICE are probing accusations of exam cheating, after claims that private 11+ tutors were able to find out questions in advance.
Angry parents slammed a "security loophole" which meant that children sitting the test were able to take the same paper on either Saturday or Sunday.
The rule means private tutors are able to flout the system, some parents claimed.
One worried dad contacted the Recorder after stumbling across accusations of cheating on a forum.
While some children genuinely could not take exams because of religious reasons, others were creating excuses or feigning illness under the advice of privately-paid for tutors, the forum claimed.
The teachers were then calling parents to ask for information on certain sections or asking pupils to memorise questions.
The dad-of-three said: "You can imagine my anger as my daughter sat the exam on a Saturday and it doesn't seem fair that children sitting it a day later should get an advantage.
"It also means that parents who can't afford to pay for a private tutor are losing out."
Other parents posted shocked comments on the forum, part of a website called Eleven Plus Exams.
Some revealed they had been contacted by tutors "fishing for answers" but had refused to answer the phone or give away information.
Goodmayes ward Cllr Satnam Singh said he had been approached by residents who had been affected and the council had been informed.
He said: "If this is the case, it is very unfair on children who sit the exam on the Saturday and hopefully something can be done to sort this out."
The 11-plus is a selective exam enabling pupils to get into the borough's two grammar schools, Ilford County High and Woodford County High.
A council spokesman said it was aware of the reports of cheating and added: "We have reported the matter to the police and are working with our exam paper provider to review the papers for evidence of cheating.
"The exams are currently phased over two days to accommodate religious requirements.
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