11+ pupils could face 60-mile trip to take exam

Children in the Royal Borough wanting to take the 11-plus may have to travel 30 miles to Aylesbury from now on because of security fears sparked by the recent exam paper leak.

Buckinghamshire County Council is reviewing procedures after a teacher broke the rules and let pupils take one of this year's test papers at home.

Royal Borough schools whose pupils have opted in to take the 11-plus are not given a set exam day. A test paper was passed on to children who had not yet taken it forcing BCC to hold emergency meetings and issue a new paper to 'ensure absolute fairness'.

They have reassured parents it will not have affected this year's results.

But the repercussions may be felt by future generations instead as the council has told Royal Borough schools it is 'considering carefully whether to continue to permit testing in schools (other than county of partner schools)'.

It may tell children they have to travel the 30 miles or more to a test centre in Aylesbury.

Admissions and travel manager at Bucks County Council, Debbie Munday, said: "We can't really say exactly how many children this decision would affect."

A decision on future procedure will be made before the end of the academic year.