Schools fear delay in results

Upper-sixth formers sitting AS levels could face delays in receiving offers of university places because of a shortage of people to mark their exam papers.

One university's schools-liaison officer told The THES : "We have got offers out based on three A levels plus an AS, but schools think there might be a delay in getting the (AS-level) results. If they don't get the results on the same day, the students won't know whether they have been accepted or whether they are in clearing. It is a possible fiasco."

Adrian James, acting head of admissions at the University of Central Lancashire, said he was aware of potential problems. "If grades weren't available, then we would have to look at the circumstances of individual applicants," he said.

Martin Brady, head of admissions at London Guildhall University, said that he would be "as sympathetic as possible" with applicants affected by the delay. But he said: "If results are published too late, we will have to say, 'Sorry, not this year'."

George Turnbull, spokesman for exam board AQA, said it had been hard to recruit enough examiners, but denied that delays were on the cards. He said: "The papers will be marked in time, to the usual high standard, and the results will get out in time."

• Education secretary Estelle Morris has ordered a review of Curriculum 2000, to be headed by David Hargreaves of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.