OUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE
We are not going to sit back and take this.. Erin Bleakley, 17, leads Glasgow rally today in protest at exam results scandal
A PUPIL who is leading a protest against the exam scandal has told Nicola Sturgeon: “We’re not going to take this – our future is at stake.” Erin Bleakley, 17, will join others at a rally in Glasgow this morning.
recognition that living somewhere that is termed an area of deprivation should not be something that prevents young people from progressing to further or higher education.”
Erin attends St Andrew’s High School in Carntyne, Glasgow, the second most deprived area in the country, according to recent figures.
She got an A in her prelim for maths but her result was downgraded to a D. Erin found that only two of the six Highers she was studying had remained the same as her predicted grades – with all others being downgraded, including another D for chemistry which she had been predicted to pass.
The SQA system took account of a school’s past performance in exams when handing out grades – often overruling teachers’ gradings and prelim results.
Erin said: “I did not think it was fair that we were being marked down on how past pupils had performed as we are all individuals.
“The difference for myself and some others is that we were on a two-year Higher pathway, meaning we would obtain six Highers by the end of S5 instead of the usual five.
“But with many marks being downgraded it means this is not the case for a lot of young people. All the work we have put in for the last two years has been undermined.
“Requesting teachers to use their professional judgment
based on a combination of previous work, prelims and other test results along with their knowledge of each particular student should have been robust enough assessment.
“To sweepingly override them undermines both the work put in by the pupils and the trust in teachers as professionals.”
Erin said she has little faith in the appeals system, believing it will not involve individual work being considered.
She also called for universities to wait until the appeals process is complete before rejecting students and forcing them to go through the clearing process to get a place on a course.
She said: “Yes, this is an unprecedented situation but colleges and universities have a responsibility to ensure fair access to further and higher education.
“It is widely recognised that young people in areas of deprivation already have to work harder than most and in a situation such as a pandemic it is hugely unfair to penalise them especially before the appeals.”
Today’s protest was moved from outside the SQA’s offices in Glasgow after interest in the event grew. It will be held instead in George Square from 8.30am until noon.
Erin said: “We were advised by Police Scotland that George Square would be better as it would hold more people.
“We’re hoping to have speakers and MSPs there. I’m just so grateful that so many are attending.”