Medway Council apology over 11-plus exams

A local council in Kent has apologised to parents and children about the way the 11-plus test was conducted.

Dozens of parents complained about last month's tests carried out at Rainham School for Girls and Chatham Grammar School For Boys. 

They said there were delays in registering pupils and children did not have access to enough water.

In an open letter to parents, Medway Council has now issued "a sincere and full apology".

Under the current system, primary school pupils are sent to nearby secondary schools to sit the test.

'Difficult time'

The council said the problems had only affected two out of its 10 test centres.

In the letter Councillor Les Wicks, the portfolio holder for children's services, said: "We are looking at what happened.

"We realise the Medway test can be a difficult time for parents and children and the last thing we would want is for them to experience any additional anxiety."

Parents concerned about the problems can ask for their children's schoolwork to be assessed by an independent panel.