PUPILS in Wiltshire have been left in an uncertain position after fears A-level results were artificially downgraded.

Headteachers across the county have called for changes to the A-level system after a public inquiry claimed the Oxford Cambridge and RSA examinations board marked down some candidates' coursework.

St Augustine's Catholic College in Trowbridge has asked for 12 students' history modules to be remarked by OCR after discrepancies in their results.

Headteacher Brendan Wall said 30 students took the subject and 12 were affected by low grades in one module.

Mr Wall said: "The low marks were in one of the modules and if you look at the results in the other modules they were getting As and Bs.

"At least three students lost their first choice university place.

"Two of them have gone on to other universities but it was not their desired place." He said the school was now waiting to hear the results of the remarking and the inquiry.

Mr Wall said: "We are waiting to see what the report says at the end of the day and what it says about the A-level grading system. It is a difficult time."

Tony Cleaver, headteacher at Sheldon School in Chippenham, said he did not believe any of his students were affected by the OCT situation but confidence in A-level marking had been undermined.

He said: "If students are worthy of top grades, that's what they should get."

Mr Cleaver has rejected proposals to move to the European baccalaureate system where students take five subjects.

"There are signs the exam boards are under strain," he said.

"What we need is stability. We need to settle down and get on with things."

Nicholas Sorensen, headteacher at St Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, said: "The whole credibility of the A-level system is at stake, which is worrying for future students as well."

Colin Smith, headteacher of Hardenhuish School in Chippenham, said the entire A- level system was in need of radical reform.

He said: "I would say it has been clear to me, my senior colleagues and our examinations officer that there has been enormous pressure on all the examination boards.

"At A-level the number of papers to be marked has more than doubled because of AS levels.

"The system is extraordinarily difficult to administer."

He said Hardenhuish had enjoyed a good year, and had proved to be one of the country's top performers at A-level. But he said the high costs of the examination system and the complicated administration, increased the need for radical reforms. The picture is the same across Wiltshire.

Dr Patrick Hazelwood, headteacher at St John's School and Community College in Marlborough, said he is under no illusions that manipulation is being carried out on A-level results so qualifications are not devalued by the continuing success of students in exams.

He said: "It is so cynical and our students are paying the price for this.

"It is so unfair."