THE headteacher of Gawthorpe High School has called for better exam assessment after pupils taking GCSE English were given the wrong marks by the exam board.

Andrew Mackenzie told the audience at the school's annual prize night he was "horrified by the distress and potential disadvantage" caused by the mix-up which saw 21 pupils re-graded from a D to a C after remarking.

The school asked the AQA exam board to look at a sample of exams after concerns the results did not match their own predictions.

The exam board changed all the marks in the sample and five pupils had grades moved up, so the school asked for a full reassessment.

Mr Mackenzie said: "We challenged the examination board to undertake a full remarking of all papers.

"The results of this confirmed that 29 out of 84 pupils who had taken GCSE English had been incorrectly assessed at a grade below their true performance.

"I am horrified by the distress and potential disadvantage caused to pupils and the concern and distress to parents and staff.

"Inadequate marking and assessment has a very human and real cost.

"While new certificates will be printed that properly recognise our pupils' achievements, the damage cannot be erased.

"I believe there are significant messages in this experience for education as a whole.

"While we support and encourage each and every child to achieve their full potential, I believe it is essential that there are adequate systems in place to ensure that each and every child gains the correct assessment of his or her ability."

The remarking of the English papers meant a significant improvement for the school's overall performance with the results just short of the best in the school's history, Mr Mackenzie said.

He also welcomed the £170million plans for reorganising secondary education in Burnley with the Building Schools for the Future programme saying the prize for all Burnley children was worth having.