Exam board’s student grading proposal is a ‘recipe for disaster’

LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

An MSP has slammed the Scottish Qualifications Authority ( SQA) after bosses announced they will not publish details on how they will grade students until after they get their results.

Ross Greer branded the plan a “recipe for disaster” after the Scottish Parliament’s education and skills committee were told of the proposal in a letter from the exam board.

All Scottish exams were cancelled this year for the first time in history due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and grades will instead be based on estimates submitted by teachers.

The letter from SQA chief executive Fiona Robertson stated the board would be “very clear” about the moderation process on results day, but they would not be detailing any methodology for finalising grades before then.

Mr Greer, who represents Renfrewshire as part of his West Scotland remit, said: “Public confidence in this year’s grading system is critical, so keeping its details a secret until after results day is a recipe for disaster.

“How can teachers and pupils in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde make informed judgements about appeals, for example, when they don’t know the model the SQA has used to change a pupil’s grade until after that grade has been issued?

“It only leaves them with a few days to get their heads round the system.”

Ms Robertson stated in her letter: “I would expect on results day this year to be very clear about the process we have undertaken and the resulting awards we have provided to young people.

“This will include the impact of any moderation process.

“Results day is normally the point at which we are clear about the outcome of our awarding decisions, and we believe it should be the same this year.”

The SQA’s letter also confirmed an equalities impact assessment ( EQIA) of the grading system - which will see pupils’ results moderated up or down depending on what school they go to - has not yet been completed.

Scotland’s Equalities and Human Rights Commissioner has already expressed concerns about the legality of the SQA’s plans, which Mr Greer has echoed.

The Green MSP, who is a member of the education and skills committee, added: “The SQA came up with a grading system and announced it publicly before even finishing it or conducting a legally-required equalities impact assessment.

“What will they do if the EQIA concludes, as appears to be obvious, that the use of a school’s historic exam results during moderation will put pupils from more deprived communities at an unacceptable disadvantage?”

An S QA spokesman said:“Schools and colleges across Scotland have worked hard to provide estimated grades which will provide the basis of certification this year. We provided guidance and support for this.

“We outlined our approach to certification, including moderation, on April 20 and have made clear that we will publish the full details of our approach on results day. Detailed guidance on the free appeals process for schools and colleges will ALSO be published.

“We have also made clear our approach to ensuring we fulfil our equality obligations, including completion and publication of an equalities impact assessment.”

The SQA came up with a grading system and announced it publicly before even finishing it