Our kids’ futures can’t be left to a postcode lottery

Parents fear some pupils will suffer

SCOTLAND’S exams system is set to descend into chaos for the second year running, opposition MSPs claim.

There is currently no uniform policy for assessing pupils’ grades.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said there would be no national exams this year but many schools have abandoned continuous assessment and switched to a traditional exam timetable.

For some pupils, who will return full-time to the classroom after the Easter holidays, that could mean sitting prelims then full exams – with only a week in between.

Many parents say it is a postcode lottery how their children will be accredited this year.

Last summer, pupils in poorer areas almost lost out on better grades as an SQA algorithm awarded grades in line with previous school performance rather than individual attainment.

However, the Scottish Government backed down and no pupil was awarded a lower grade than had been predicted by teachers.

Labour education spokesman Michael Marra said the Scottish Government and the SQA had “learnt nothing” from last year’s fiasco.

He added: “The pandemic has been especially tough on school pupils and now the SNP are denying them a fair chance.

“Despite last year’s exam moderation disgrace, John Swinney and the SQA have clearly learnt nothing. Our children’s futures cannot be left to a postcode lottery once again.”

According to parents of children at Stewarton Academy in Ayrshire, pupils are facing a punishing timetable, where they will sit both prelims and exams next month.

One parent said: “We were told there would be no exams this year and that kids would be judged on continuous assessment. The SQA need two pieces of evidence. In our school’s case, that’ll be prelims and exams written by the SQA.”

The SQA has provided exams to schools but it is up to each school how they use all or any part of them. They can be used as study aids, as part of a class lesson or as a test.

The parent added: “Other local authorities are going on continuous assessment but we’ve been

told our kids have to depend on these exams, which means they are being unfairly judged against others.”

East Ayrshire Council said its cabinet is due to consider the paper Secondary School Attainment 2021. It added the report would provide a summary of the steps being taken by schools, in the absence of external exams, to ensure young people receive certification for National Qualifications.

A spokeswoman said: “The paper clearly sets out the council’s approach, which has been informed by the Alternative Certification Model guidance provided by the SQA and led by our secondary head teachers. SQA guidance is clear that teachers should prepare provisional awards solely based on key assessment evidence. This is different to last year where awards were based on teacher professional judgments.

“Our head teachers will write to parents, carers and young people, setting out plans for an assessment timetable to take place between May 7 and 21.

“This evidence, along with demonstrated pupil assessments such as class tests, will form the basis of provisional awards to be submitted by schools to SQA.”

The SQA said: “There is no requirement to simulate a full exam setting. A mixture of assessment approaches – including practical work and coursework – where appropriate, has been advised.

We have provided teachers and lecturers with detailed assessment guidance for every subject which highlights the flexible approaches in which assessment can be carried out.

“Throughout the creation of this year’s model, the views and impact on young people have been at the heart of our decision-making.”