Ulster Unionist MLA Sandra Overend has called for GL Assessment to give an explanation as to why 30 pupils received the wrong results for the entrance exam into the Rainey Endowed Grammar School.

Sandra’s 11 year-old son, Joshua was ‘devastated’ after he discovered on Saturday that he had received the wrong results.

A processing error with GL Assessments and PPTC has been blamed for the mix-up.

GL assessment, which is seen as a replacement for the 11 plus, is used by many schools to determine who they admit.

Seven pupil’s grades, including Sandra’s son’s, were downgraded.

Last night Mrs Overend spoke of her son’s devastation.

She said: “It was extremely disappointing to receive one set of results then to find out that they were incorrect.

“We had driven to the Post Office in Ballymena on Saturday morning to get the results because Joshua was too excited to wait on the postman, who usually arrives around 3pm. We were all delighted with the results and we had told friends and family.

“When we found out that the results were wrong, we were so disappointed. Joshua was totally devastated. I had noticed that his date of birth was incorrect but never for a second did I think that the results would be wrong. You just take it at face value.

“Joshua did brilliant but now he feels that he didn’t do well enough. There is enough pressure on children at that age but for his to happen, it is just so unfair on them.

“We don’t know if Joshua will get accepted into the Rainey now, we just have to wait until May. An explanation of why this happened needs to be given,” added Mrs Overend.

Principal of the Rainey Endowed Grammar School, Mark McCullagh added: “We are working very closely with parents of the pupils that have been affected.  The vast majority of pupils had their marks increased, however unfortunately six or seven pupils’ marks were downgraded, which has just been awful. It wasn’t the school’s fault.  It was a processing error with GL assessment and PPTC.

“We are behind the pupils 100 per cent and will continue to work with them until this has been sorted,” added Mr McCullagh.

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