A HEADTEACHER left her job after children’s exam papers were tampered with, The Argus can reveal.

Saltdean Primary head Suzanne Morgan “left the school’s employment” in September after unspecified “serious accusations” were made – but is now being allowed to return.

She will be back in post next month.

Parents have now been told that the school was investigated after some children’s SATs exam papers were “amended outside of test conditions”.

It means all the 2017 spelling, punctuation and grammar SATs exam results at the school have been cancelled.

And school governors say they are confident pupils whose exam results have been annulled “will not have been adversely affected”.

They described it as an “unusually difficult period of uncertainty” for the school.

One parent said: “I’m absolutely astonished that she’s managed to keep her job.”

All other SATs exam papers at the school from 2017 were checked but “no other irregularities were found” and the results will not be affected.

Mrs Morgan had been signed off work “due to ill health” during the summer term.

Education chiefs told the school it must tell parents what happened, investigate the cause, make sure all relevant secondary schools are informed, and tighten up the marking of exam papers in future.

The school says it has now completed these tasks.

School governors say they launched an immediate investigation into how the “irregularities”could have happened.

Chairman of governors Joe Paxton said in a letter to parents: “All procedures relating to SATs have been thoroughly investigated and reviewed by the governors and the school management team.

“New processes are in place and I, the governing body and the school wish to reassure parents that all exams administered at the school now not only follow but exceed the Standards and Testing Agency’s guidelines.

“Having completed the necessary procedures, I am pleased to announce that Mrs Morgan will be returning as headteacher of Saltdean Primary on February 25.

“It is appreciated by myself and the governing body that the school community has not been provided with information regarding Mrs Morgan’s absence over the recent months.

“We can only apologise for this and stress that this lack of communication was necessary for legal reasons. We thank you for your patience during this time, it has been very much appreciated.

“We would like to thank Mrs Burley for doing a fantastic job as acting headteacher in Mrs Morgan’s absence.”

Chairman of governors Joe Paxton refused to answer the following questions from The Argus:

  • Was Mrs Morgan directly responsible for tampering with the exam papers, ie did she physically alter the papers?

If the answer is no, then:

  • Who physically did the tampering and what has happened to this person? Are they still at the school?
  • Was Mrs Morgan aware that this person was altering exam papers?
  • If Mrs Morgan was either responsible for the tampering, or aware it was happening, how can the governors justify bringing her back into the school?

Mr Paxton said: “We will not be answering questions about any particular member of staff.”