A HEADTEACHER has called for an overhaul of exam board procedures after one student had her A-level grade changed from a U to an A.

More than 100 GCSE and 20 A-level grades have been changed at Brighton College, prompting headteacher Richard Cairns to ask for 200 more of his pupils’ papers to be re-marked.

The Eastern Road school headteacher said markers are poorly paid and inexperienced.

He called on the government to review how papers are marked by exam boards AQA and OCR.

Sixth form student Peony Grainger saw her A-level history grade rise from a U to an A following a remark.

She will now study geography at Newcastle University but wants an apology from the exam board.

She said: “When I was going in I already knew that I hadn’t got into my universities, but when I saw the U I was just so shocked.

“The worst thing was, while all my friends were celebrating their grades and looking forward to going to university, I was at home frantically ringing universities begging them to take me anyway.

“I had some confidence in it going up because a similar thing happened at GCSE but it shouldn’t come down to luck.”

Deputy headteacher Alan Bird thinks the inconsistencies are down to exam boards not recruiting enough good examiners.

He said: “With the changes to how GCSEs are marked, more responsibility is going to be placed on the exam boards because there is no coursework.”

Brighton and Hove High School headteacher Jennifer Smith believes the issue is widespread as the school also appeals a number of results. But Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College headteacher Chris Tompson said the results were no different to any other year.

Both AQA and OCR have apologised for the inconsistencies and are investigating.