Prosecutors could bring charges over A-level maths paper leak

Prosecutors are considering criminal charges after A-level maths papers were leaked online, an exam board has said.

The 2017 breach forced exam board Edexcel to issue replacement questions at the last minute after reports that some students had access to material in advance.

On Tuesday, parent company Pearson confirmed that police have passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

An investigation into a second A-level maths paper leak last year is continuing.

In a statement on its website, Pearson said: “In the UK summer examination series in 2017 and 2018, Pearson was subject to a limited external breach of its maths A-level paper. The police have made progress in their investigation from the first limited breach and have referred the first case to the Crown Prosecution Service.

“They are also finalising their investigation with the second case and we hope that they will soon be sending materials to the Crown Prosecution Service. We hope this latest update will act as a deterrent for any other isolated individuals that consider this course of action.”

Police told the company that evidence was given to the CPS in February.

Pearson said: “We have continued to support the police in their investigations, but due to the complexity and unusual nature of these cases, it has taken time to investigate. The police informed us that in February, they referred the first case to the Crown Prosecution Service with the aim of bringing charges against those arrested.

“The individuals responsible for these incidents are therefore now being held to account for the disruption that they caused. The police are finalising the second case and we hope that they will soon be sending materials to the Crown Prosecution Service.”

The 2018 leak saw a C4 maths paper apparently leaked online a day before thousands of candidates were due to sit the exam.

Students reported seeing the paper for sale online for £200, with the sellers sending over the first question to prove they had it, but demanding the cash before they would reveal the rest.

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