Having achieved the lowest error rate of the major exam boards last year; successfully emerged from a Qualifications and Curriculum Authority audit; delivered 10 million marks accurately and on time last summer; been exonerated by the Tomlinson Report, and handled up to 8,000 often complicated enquiries each day, they at least merit balanced comment.

As for late coursework, our policy is to do our very best to mark it, however late the submission. Last summer we managed more than half a million late entries - with more than 40,000 scripts for students who schools had not even entered.

Frank Wingate

Head of external relations, Edexcel