Q) Should Scotland’s failing exam quango: (a) Do better (b) Hire £90,000 spin doctor
SCOTLAND’S crisis-hit exams quango is to spend nearly £90,000 a year paying for a new spin doctor.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) was heavily criticised last year over the way pupils were graded, after exams were cancelled due to the pandemic.
Tens of thousands of marks that had been recommended by teachers were downgraded, based on the past performance of schools – with students in more deprived areas affected the most.
Now, only weeks after the SQA was branded ‘not fit for purpose’ by MSPs, the quango is hunting for a director of communications.
In an apparent nod to criticism of its past contact with families and teachers, the job advert states that ‘a significant part of this role will be externally facing, with a requireMSPs.
‘SQA’s priority should be sorting out its flaws’
ment to enhance our engagement with stakeholders’.
The SQA’s drive to improve its image follows last month’s vote in the Scottish parliament to overhaul the organisation.
Last night, Scottish Tory education spokesman Jamie Greene said: ‘It’s shocking the SQA is spending so much on a spin doctor when the priority should be sorting out the organisation’s fundamental flaws.
‘Confidence in the SQA is at an all-time low. The grades fiasco last year let down parents, pupils and teachers, and huge questions remain over how grades this year will be marked.
‘Parliament has already voted for the SQA to be brought up to the required standard, but as usual the undemocratic SNP Government has ignored the views of other A new, expensive communications chief at the SQA won’t be able to paper over the cracks.’
The SQA endured months of criticism after Ministers cancelled last year’s exams and told the quango to come up with another way of assessing students.
Teachers were asked to estimate pupils’ grades – but around 124,000 were downgraded by a computer algorithm during the so-called ‘moderation’ process.
Within days, the Scottish Government had performed a U-turn and told the SQA to use teachers’ grades for almost 76,000 pupils.
A report provoked further controversy amid claims of a cover-up, when this newspaper revealed the draft findings were passed to SQA chief Fiona Robertson for ‘factchecking’ before publication.
She responded with a 44-page spreadsheet, demanding parts be removed, amended or clarified.
The report, by Professor Mark
Priestley of Stirling University, highlighted ‘an apparent reluctance by SQA to share some information, widely seen as a lack of transparency’ and ‘a perception by teachers that SQA communication throughout the process was not always clear or comprehensive’.
His ‘rapid review’ also found that ‘there has been an erosion of trust/ confidence in SQA among teachers and young people’.
The SQA’s online job advert states it needs a director of communications to ‘lead a new directorate within SQA which will provide strengthened leadership and stakeholder engagement, with strategic communication at its core’.
The salary is advertised at £81,000-£89,000 and is based in Glasgow or Dalkeith.
An SQA spokesman said: ‘The appointment will provide strategic leadership and strengthen our existing and extensive communications and engagement activity.
‘It is usual for many organisations to have this role.’