Don’t fail second test over exams

LAST year’s exams chaos was an episode of mismanagement and political catastrophe that saw Deputy First Minister John Swinney come close to losing his job.

With the usual sit-down assessments understandably cancelled due to the pandemic, the Scottish Qualifications Authority thought it was a good idea to estimate grades for pupils based on the performance of the school they went to.

This epic fail meant pupils in more deprived areas of Scotland were unfairly marked down – a situation which was ultimately reversed with teachers given the job of deciding grades.

Pupils and parents were assured lessons would be learned as we come up to the second year of traditional exams being cancelled.

But it appears the new way of working has just moved a problem.

Pupils in 2021 are now facing a postcode lottery when it comes to their final grade.

Some schools are allowing continuous assessment via coursework to decide the mark while others are arranging what are effectively individual exams.

Parents are rightly worried – again – that their children are being unfairly treated, discriminated against and not being given a fair chance. This is another scandal in the making. But it’s one that everyone can see coming.

The Scottish Government needs to take heed of the warnings and concerns of those on the frontline and stop this impending train wreck.

The future prospects of Scotland’s young people is at stake.

They can’t go another year with the fear, uncertainty and worry about their grades.