Students from Castle Rushen High School are still not satisfied with how their English grade will be determined.

After a blunder at the school, where pupils were taught the wrong exam text, the exam board Cambridge International came to an agreement with the school and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.

The students’ grades will be decided by their poetry and prose exam and their course work being used to rank them against all other pupils who took those exams. The exam board will then determine a rank equivalent mark for the drama exam, giving the students a combined overall grade for their English literature GCSE.

However, a student who sat the exam has contacted the Manx Independent to share their and their friend’s view about the situation.

The student, who didn’t want to be named, said: ’I am distraught, as are as many other pupils, that the school has made such a huge mistake.

’And I am appalled at the fact that our grade is also going to be partially affected by a "rank equivalent mark" for our drama component that is based on the work of other pupils.’

They said the teacher who stood down as head of department, Archana Kamble, was not entirely to blame, saying she was a ’wonderful teacher and very popular among students’.

The student added: ’I, as well as many others in my year blame the English department as a whole for the exam mistake as if all the teachers had been checking the syllabus, surely the fact that An Inspector Calls was not on the syllabus would have been noticed? We are also confused as to why no other schools had noticed it either. All the high schools in the island supposedly communicate, so if the other schools didn’t make the mistake and knew what was and wasn’t on the syllabus, why didn’t they point it out to Castle Rushen?’

A school spokesman told the Manx Independent: ’First and foremost CRHS would encourage the student who has contacted Isle of Man Newspapers to speak to the head teacher or another teacher about any concerns they may have.

’CRHS has implemented a number of changes following May’s IGCSE exam incident. This includes additional checks of exam syllabuses by more than just the subject team leader.

’The school has also recommended to the DESC that extra time is allowed for subject specialists to talk about exam specification delivery at island-wide subject network meetings and all-island teacher training events.

’The head teacher has written to all the students and parents concerned multiple times, the final letter clearly outlining the exam board’s concession. Students will be given an overall grade from their actual marks for poetry and prose and course work plus their rank equivalent mark computed for drama.

The spokesman added: ’CRHS has admitted its mistake and has taken steps to support students. The school has negotiated with the exam board, replied to numerous individual contacts, and staff have spoken to and reassured the students and parents who were willing to have a dialogue.

’CRHS has a record of excellent exam outcomes. While, in no way, seeking to under-emphasise the difficulties encountered by the issue, the school has done all it can to mitigate the mistake.’