Sticking points

Teacher-predicted grades were preferred over the computer mediated results intended to keep them in line with

previous years. As a result 90 per cent of Scottish school pupils achieved a pass rate this year compared to a pass rate of 75 per cent in the previous years.

Considering so many state school pupils didn’t receive on-line teaching and revision classes, employers won’t buy the 2020 grades.

I saw a pupil carrying a placard saying “Teachers Really Know, Computer Grades Must Go.” but the fact is that teacher-predicted grades are wildly inaccurate, with the majority understandably over-projecting. The computer programs at least tried to be rational but basing the final result on teachers was simply the SNP government caving-in and the RUK had no option but do the same.

Othereuropeannationsheld exams and we could have done the same, but given teacher union inflexibility that would have been the neatest of tricks. The First Minister is accused of trying to retain the teen vote for Indyref2 but the reality is, the SNP can’t cope with the EIS just as the Tories were once scared of the miners.

Until Ms Sturgeon can “do a Thatcher”, our schools are stuck.

(REV DR) JOHN CAMERON

Howard Place, St Andrews

Gill Turner (Letters, 21 August) denigrates the OECD’S PISA testing which for many years has provided a reliable international measure of pupils’ performance in maths, science and reading. Scotland’s PISA performance was lauded for many years. However, when we slipped down the rankings under the stewardship of the current Holyrood administration, the SNP were quick to discredit the PISA system, claiming that it was statistically flawed and no longer relevant in the era of Curriculum for Excellence.

Perhaps the opinions of maths, English and science teachers would be more relevant

than those of a Gaelic teacher whose subject is not measured by PISA.

I recall a similar situation arising with our GERS figures, which Alex Salmond claimed were “the definitive statement on the state of Scotland’s public

finances” – a statement that the SNP were quick to later “whitewash” as it no longer supported the independence narrative.

On the subject of Curriculum for Excellence, while the underlying principles are

laudable, the SNP’S implementation of it was disastrous. Indeed, it has only worked through the hard work and dedication of teachers who managed to navigate through the mountains of paperwork and reinterpret the incoherent ramblings from the Scottish Government and its various quangos.

Teachers didn’t give it the nickname “Curriculum for Excrement” for nothing!

ANDREW HAMILTON

Forth Street, North Berwick