A senior teacher has been suspended from a Laindon school for delaying the release of hundreds of GCSE exam papers.

The scripts were found in a cupboard amid claims from the teacher she "tidied them away".

Most students at James Hornsby High School, in Laindon High Road, will now have to wait an extra two frustrating weeks before receiving a complete set of results.

Headteacher Jacqueline White is in charge of carrying out a "full and thorough" investigation while examiners frantically mark the "lost" papers.

She was made aware of the problem last Wednesday when exam boards began calling to ask where the papers were. The headteacher has told of her "disappointment" at discovering a member of her management team has "misled" her.

Mrs White, who became head of the school when it reopened as the merged Nicholas and Laindon schools in September, said: "I have experienced a sense of outrage since finding out the truth.

"I, along with the two deputy headteachers, have been misled into believing the correct process has been carried out. Short of following the examining officer to the post box, we have been double checking all the way. We have been constantly reassured each step was being taken."

A set of papers from Mrs Hearsey's year group were only discovered locked in a cupboard at the school after an exam board called to see where the papers were.

It is believed about 370 papers from 150 of the 180 GCSE students were sent off late. They include exams from a number of subjects including English, maths and science.

When Mrs White confronted her member of staff, she was told the papers had been sent off.

Mrs White said: "I initially thought there must be a mistake. I have not been given a rational explanation from my examining officer as to why this has happened so there needs to be a full investigation."

Parents were told to prepare for the delay in a letter hand-delivered last night.

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