THE Impartial Reporter has this week been unable to substantiate or dismiss accusations of alleged staff malpractice against a second level school in Fermanagh.
This newspaper recently received an allegation relating to possible irregularity at a school with claims that coursework had been “doctored.”
However when we attempted to prove or disprove these claims this week, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) said all work associated with malpractice is “confidential” in line with regulations imposed by The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ).
The guidelines also stipulate that the work of the Malpractice Committee is confidential.
Furthermore CCEA has said the majority of cases of malpractice are confidential between the individual centre, the individual who engaged in the malpractice and the awarding body.
However in cases of serious malpractice, where the threat to the integrity of the examination or assessment is such as to outweigh a duty of confidentiality “it will normally be necessary for information to be exchanged amongst: the regulators; other awarding bodies; and other centres where the malpractice may affect the delivery of an awarding body’s qualification.” 
But parents, pupils and the wider public will never find out about such failings, it would appear.
The Impartial Reporter asked CCEA to confirm the claim that an investigation is currently being carried out at a Fermanagh school in relation to the “doctoring” of coursework. 
Next we asked for details on any investigations in relation to suspected cheating in recent years at the school. Then we asked for full details on any fines imposed as a result of previous investigations at the school and when the current alleged investigation, if there is one ongoing, will be completed.
CCEA did not answer any of these specific questions, instead in a statement it said that all work associated with malpractice is confidential and it takes “any allegation of malpractice seriously.”
“The integrity of our examinations is of the utmost importance. CCEA, like all exam boards, has robust processes and checks in place, including an inspection service, to ensure fairness for all candidates.”
The statement added: “Anyone who suspects or has any information in relation to a possible examination irregularity should contact the appropriate awarding body so that they can be investigated accordingly. All such information will be treated confidentially.”
Possible penalties in relation to staff malpractice are detailed in the JCQ guidelines, however these do not include imposing fines.
In cases of centre staff malpractice, the primary role of the awarding body is to consider whether the integrity of its examinations and assessments have been placed in jeopardy. 
The JCQ guidelines state that it is is not the role of the awarding body to be involved in any matter affecting the member of staff’s or contractor’s contractual relationship with his/her employer or engager. 
“Awarding bodies recognise that employers may take a different view of an allegation to that determined by the awarding body or its Malpractice Committee,” states the JCQ guidelines. 
Where a member of staff or contractor has been found guilty of malpractice, an awarding body may impose one or more of the following sanctions or penalties: a written warning, training, special conditions such as internal assessment or supervision of examinations or assessments. It could also result in suspension from all involvement in the delivery or administration of examinations or assessments for a set period of time.
Asked if there was a recall of all coursework at the Fermanagh school, as claimed by our source, a spokeswoman for CCEA said: “CCEA reserve the right to recall coursework from any school and may do this across subjects and schools as part of our annual quality assurance processes.”
Asked to outline what measures are taken to ‘police’ the marking of coursework in schools to ensure that it fits the criteria the spokeswoman explained that all schools are required to deliver internal assessment in line with JCQ procedures. 
The Education and Training Inspectorate was asked about the claims too and in a statement a spokeswoman said the body has not been involved in any investigations regarding coursework and/or marking at the school but added that the district inspector did make a routine visit to the school last month. 
Meanwhile the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (OFQUAL) has confirmed there were 2,430 penalties issued by exam boards to candidates in 2016 following reported malpractice for GCSE and A level in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
OFQUAL was asked for a breakdown of the figures pertaining to Fermanagh but were unable to provide such detail. 
However for the summer 2016 exam series, 388 penalties were issued to school or college staff across the United Kingdom, an increase of 48 per cent on 2015 when 262 penalties were issued.
Most penalties were issued as a result of school or college staff giving inappropriate assistance to candidates; 218 cases last year, representing 56 per cent of all penalties imposed on school or college staff.