Covid- 19 Education Recovery Group to make decision on exams
The remainder of the 2020/ 21 exam diet in Scotland could be cancelled as soon as next week as crunch- time approaches for the education secretary.
It is understood a meeting of the Covid- 19 Education Recovery Group will discuss the matter at length in a meeting next week, with Education Secretary John Swinney expected to make an announcement in the following days or, at the very latest, before Christmas.
The same group met on Thursday to discuss a potential extension to the Christmas holiday period for school pupils to December 18 to January 11.
While no final decision has yet been taken on either matter, a source close to the discussions said it was likely all exams would be cancelled before Christmas to allow for schools to prepare for the
alternative assessment that would then be required.
Mr Swinney has previously said the latest he would take such a decision would be February, but has indicated that cancellation of the Higher and Advanced Higher exams would be more likely if pupils faced higher levels of disruption.
On an appearance to the Education and Skills Committee on November 11, Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government must monitor disruption “carefully” and would be a “material consideration for us in making that judgment”.
According to one source, the high level of pupil absences caused by self- isolation requirements due to Covid- 19, which have disproportionately hurt poorer and older children, has led to the potential change in policy.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our ambition remains for Higher and Advanced Higher exams to proceed if possible. It must, however, be safe to do so and it must be fair to learners.
"We are monitoring the position closely and listening to all the different views on this matter.
“The Deputy First Minister has been clear that the latest point at which a decision will be taken is the February break, which is more than three months before the exams are due to begin.” He has also been clear that he will make a decision sooner if the evidence is pointing to that. Contingency plans are being drawn up to ensure fair and consistent awarding for Higher and Advanced Higher courses should exams not be possible.”
The announcement came as it emerged a majority of Scottish parents believe exams for Higher and Advanced Higher should be cancelled next year.
The National Parent Forum of Scotland survey found most parents and carers think they should be scrapped now amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Just over a quarter of parents ( 26.6 per cent) believe the exams should go ahead in 2021, while 50.6 per cent want them to be cancelled, according to the poll of 4,196 parents and carers.
There were also 22.8 per cent who said they were undecided.
Scottish Greens education spokesman Ross Greer said: "John Swinney must reassure parents, pupils and teachers by cancelling the Highers and Advanced Highers now, giving them some certainty before schools break up for Christmas."