Some 30 journalism students have had their shorthand exam results nullified by the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), reports HoldTheFrontPage.
An investigation has been launched following allegations that a tutor working for the training centre Brighton Journalist Works (BJW) was guilty of malpractice.
The NCTJ, having been surprised by the high pass rate achieved in exams sat on 26 November, sent a regulator to monitor another exam held on 11 December.
The regulator determined that the test was compromised by the examiner failing to read at the correct speed.
One of the affected students told HoldTheFrontPage: “To be told that our shorthand exams have not counted is nothing short of heartbreaking. It’s a shambles and we want answers.”
Students received a letter from the NCTJ’s head of qualifications, Lyn Jones, in which she set out the reasons for the shorthand exams being “declared null and void.”
She wrote: “This is due to a case of malpractice by your centre which has compromised the integrity of these exams... BJW has been informed of the outcome of our investigation and they have been advised that they must offer you the opportunity to re-sit the exams, at no cost to you, on a suitable date in January.”
Paula O’Shea, BJW’s managing director, said: “It looks like we have inadvertently breached the administrative rules of the NCTJ exam policy and our own normal high standards.
“We are taking this very seriously and will be conducting our own internal investigation.”
The 30 students affected are taking the fast-track NCTJ diploma course. She described them as “a great bunch” and told me of her disappointment at them “suffering stress”.
O’Shea said: “We have a great history of doing the right thing. This is very concerning indeed.”
New shorthand tutors have been recruited along with a new invigilator, she said.
BJW, which was set up nine years ago, currently shares offices with the Brighton Argus. Both the paper and the training centre have benefited from the close relationship.
The paper’s former editor, Michael Beard, is quoted on the BJW website as saying: “Having these extremely keen and well-trained journalists based in our offices provides them with real-life training from day one.”
An NCTJ executive said that during the conduct of its investigation “it would not be appropriate to comment any further.”
Sources: HoldTheFrontPage/Brighton Journalist Works/NCTJ
