“New technology reduces risk and can transform the learning experience," said John Kerr, Chief Executive of Edexcel, in welcoming the modernisation programme for education announced by the Secretary of State today. "We look forward to continuing to play a leading role in taking these technology-led initiatives forward.

"Edexcel’s digital initiatives in online entry have been very successful. Over 75% of schools and colleges already electronically enter students for Edexcel's exams through Edexcel Online and I expect that to rise to over 90% in 2004.

"Edexcel's piloting of e-marking is progressing into its second series, with scripts being marked both online and in the traditional way for comparison purposes.

"In addition, Edexcel has successfully piloted online delivery of exams using a secure web-based transfer, resulting in live onscreen examinations (paperless exams) taken in 2003.

"Edexcel has trained over 2,500 exams officers this year and trained 40,000 teachers in 2003 through INSET and other training programmes.  We also welcome the new recruitment campaign. It is important to encourage teachers to be examiners at some point in their career as we believe it better helps them to understand the assessment process.”

Other facts:

• Over 4,200 schools, 450 further education colleges, 80 higher education institutes and 800 employers ran Edexcel courses in the UK in 2002. 
  
  This resulted in: 
• Nearly 3.5m entries and registrations (up from 2.5m in 2001)
• 1,974 different exam papers being set
• 4.6m scripts being processed (up from 3.9m in 2001)
• 10.5m marks being processed (up from 4.1m in 2000 and 8m in 2001)
• 15,000 examiners and moderators marking papers 
• over 1.5m certificates being printed