'˜Marking mistakes could prove costly for local students'

Leigh Cooper from Ballyclare, an officer with the Ulster Teachers’ Union, was speaking as the latest statistics revealed that a record number of GCSE and A Level papers were sent for re-grading last summer.

“We are concerned about the rising number of exams having to be re-graded. These results are of critical importance to Northern Ireland young people and are a key measure on which schools are judged,” she said.

A record 90,000 A Level and GCSE grades were changed last year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland after a huge increase in the number of papers sent back by schools to be remarked.

Ms Cooper also voiced concern that the expense involved in paying for a remark could disadvantage less well-off students.