Fair exams system ‘near impossible’

Achieving a perfect grades system after cancellation of this year’ s exams would have been near impossible, according to the education expert who reviewed it.

However, Professor Mark Priestley concluded that different decisions could have at least in part avoided the controversy in August when the Scottish Qualifications Authority moderated more than 124,000 pupil grades down from teacher estimates.

He said trust among teachers and pupils in the SQA had been eroded and in some cases relations were seriously damaged as a result.

The findings of Prof Priestley’s team at Stirling University were published as National 5 exams for 2021 were cancelled on Wednesday, in an attempt to reduce the risk to Higher and Advanced exams going ahead next May.

Several days after results were issued on August 4, the Scottish Government apologised to young people and reverted to grades issued by teachers where they were higher.

Those at schools in more deprived areas were more likely to have been marked down by the system adopted by the SQA, owing to it taking into account historical data from schools.

Introducing his report, Prof Priestley said: “While, with hindsight we acknowledge that it would have been a near impossible task to adopt a perfectly working system that would have pleased everyone, it is important we look back and learn so we can avoid a similar predicament in 2021.”

Generation of grade estimates had been subject to variation, it said, which clearly impacted on reliability and consistency of assessment at that crucial stage.

However, the review said the statistical approach to moderation could have been more transparent earlier and had led to anomalies in grade adjustment.

It also acknowledged widespread criticism of the SQA for a “perceived lack of transparency and a failure to engage” with stakeholders in developing solutions.

S QA chief executive Fiona Robertson, Scotland’s chief examining officer, said: “We will duly reflect and consider the review findings and will be responding to the Scottish Government on next steps shortly.”

She also said the SQA published broad guidance on how teachers should gather evidence and make estimates, accompanied by an SQA Academy course.