AN OTLEY school has apologised after students sat a GCSE exam containing a topic they hadn’t been taught.

Pupils at Prince Henry’s Grammar School encountered the problem when they were taking their Religious Studies test on Monday, May 20.

That led to criticism from a number of parents who questioned how the oversight - which one described as ‘beyond belief’ - could have happened.

The school, meanwhile, says it has launched an investigation and is also asking the exam board to consider granting ‘special consideration’: a post-exam adjustment to compensate students who have been disadvantaged at the time of their test.

Headteacher Janet Sheriff, in a letter sent to parents and carers on Tuesday, May 21, also apologised for the mistake.

She said: “During the exam it became clear that students had not covered one of the topics being examined in the paper.

“The rest of the paper, and paper one completed the week before, was as expected. Following the examination we immediately began an investigation into the matter and also applied to the Exam Board for ‘special consideration’ for all students who sat it.

“Only the Exam Board has the power to decide if the special consideration is significant enough to alter the final grade of students. The outcome of any special consideration requests are only made known to school when results are received in August.

“If your son/ daughter’s RS result is not in line with expectations, and there is a risk that this may affect their next steps in learning or employment, we will provide a letter of support to explain the issue with the RS exam and how this may have affected their result.

“The investigation into the matter is ongoing and the result of this will be used to minimise the risk of this situation happening again.”

She added: “So far the year group have approached their exams in a professional manner, including in relation to the above issue.

“We are confident that the rest of their exams will progress smoothly and enable them to achieve the outcomes they deserve.

“Please pass on my sincere apologies to your son or daughter for any distress that this issue has caused.”