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| Higher English exam leak sparked 'near-emergency' | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A teacher who allegedly told students what to expect in the Higher English exam sparked a near-emergency at the exams agency, BBC Scotland can reveal. | |
| One of the Higher English papers was replaced weeks before the exam amid concerns it may have been leaked. | One of the Higher English papers was replaced weeks before the exam amid concerns it may have been leaked. |
| A teacher involved in setting the paper may have given their students too much information, BBC Scotland understands. | A teacher involved in setting the paper may have given their students too much information, BBC Scotland understands. |
| The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said it was carrying out a full investigation. | The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said it was carrying out a full investigation. |
| It compiled a replacement paper as a precaution. | It compiled a replacement paper as a precaution. |
| The replacement was sent to schools and exam centres a week before the exam earlier this month. It was compiled much more quickly than usual to meet the urgent deadline. | The replacement was sent to schools and exam centres a week before the exam earlier this month. It was compiled much more quickly than usual to meet the urgent deadline. |
| The SQA gave little information about the specific circumstances which led to the emergency. | The SQA gave little information about the specific circumstances which led to the emergency. |
| The exams body said "unusual" and external" circumstances were to blame. | The exams body said "unusual" and external" circumstances were to blame. |
| But BBC Scotland understands the focus is on a teacher who played a part in setting the original paper. | But BBC Scotland understands the focus is on a teacher who played a part in setting the original paper. |
| It is alleged the teacher suggested to students what topics might come up in the exam and the kind of answers they could give. | It is alleged the teacher suggested to students what topics might come up in the exam and the kind of answers they could give. |
| The concern was these students could have been unfairly advantaged or may have spread the information - either personally or on social media. | The concern was these students could have been unfairly advantaged or may have spread the information - either personally or on social media. |
| A spokesperson for SQA said: "We are continuing to conduct a detailed review of the circumstances around this year's Higher English examination and it would be inappropriate to comment further until that process has been completed." | A spokesperson for SQA said: "We are continuing to conduct a detailed review of the circumstances around this year's Higher English examination and it would be inappropriate to comment further until that process has been completed." |
| There is no suggestion that any member of SQA staff, nor any external contractor such as the printers, acted irresponsibly. | There is no suggestion that any member of SQA staff, nor any external contractor such as the printers, acted irresponsibly. |
| Nor is there any suggestion that anybody at either the school concerned, or any other school, who had responsibility for looking after the exam papers, was in the wrong. | Nor is there any suggestion that anybody at either the school concerned, or any other school, who had responsibility for looking after the exam papers, was in the wrong. |
| Secure storage | Secure storage |
| The issue was a concern that the content of the exam - as opposed to the paper itself - could have become known to candidates. | The issue was a concern that the content of the exam - as opposed to the paper itself - could have become known to candidates. |
| BBC Scotland revealed two days before the exam a replacement for one of the two papers had been sent out the week before. | BBC Scotland revealed two days before the exam a replacement for one of the two papers had been sent out the week before. |
| The problem had come to the SQA's attention a few weeks earlier. Although the new paper had to be compiled quickly, the organisation said it always produces more material than is actually needed. | The problem had come to the SQA's attention a few weeks earlier. Although the new paper had to be compiled quickly, the organisation said it always produces more material than is actually needed. |
| Generally, one person at each school or exam centre takes responsibility for all the exam papers and makes sure they are safely and securely stored until they are needed. | Generally, one person at each school or exam centre takes responsibility for all the exam papers and makes sure they are safely and securely stored until they are needed. |
| Teachers do not get to see exams beforehand. | Teachers do not get to see exams beforehand. |