Leader blasted over comments

Opposition parties have rounded on the leader of the SNP in North Lanarkshire ove r h i s comment s regarding the SQA exams.

Councillor Tom Johnston released a statement after exam results were issued with the council confirming 46 per cent of North Lanarkshire candidates were marked down.

Councillor Johnston said: “If teachers’ estimates were accepted en masse, the following amazing rise in pass rates would have resulted: National 5 up from 78.2 per cent in 2019 to 88.6 per cent in 2020, according to teacher estimates. An increase of 10.4 per cent.

“This was reduced by the SQA to 81.1 per cent - an actual increase of 2.9 per cent.

“Likewise, Higher had rocketed from actual pass rate of 74.8 per cent in 2019 to teachers’ estimates of 88.8 per cent in 2020 – an astonishing rise of 14 per cent.

“This was reduced by the SQA to 78.9 per cent – an actual increase of 4.1 per cent.

“Advanced Higher soared from the actual pass rate of 79. per cent in 2019 to an unreal 92.8 per cent in the teacher estimates for 2020.

“This unlikely 13.4 per cent estimate increase was reduced by the SQA to a pass rate of 84.9 per cent – still an actual increase of 5.5 per cent. Teachers in deprived areas were apparently awarding over 85 per cent pass marks when it was actually 65 per cent last year.

“If the huge teacher estimates had been accepted, the Scottish Government would have likely been accused of fiddling the figures.

“Justice for individuals who have cases for reconsideration will come through the appeals process.”

The SNP group leader’s comments drew criticism from several quarters, including some within his own party.

Councillor Cameron McManus tweeted: “Sometimes you’ve got to call it out. This PR was way off point, to blame the teachers is not the correct answer.”

The council’s convener of education and families, Frank McNally, insisted Councillor Johnston’s words showed his party was “out of touch” on the issue.

He blasted: “The SNP in North Lanarkshire is shambolic at the best of times – but this is perhaps the most damning indictment of them all.

“As anxious pupils worry about their futures as a result of this fiasco, the SNP in North Lanarkshire can’t even decide amongst themselves what to think about the most deprived pupils in our society having their grades reduced because of where they go to school.

“To have Tom Johnston – a former teacher himself – blame our hardworking teaching staff for his own government’s mess is nothing short of disgraceful.

“The SNP in North Lanarkshire seem more content defending their party masters in Edinburgh than calling out the injustice served on our young people.

“This scandal has shone a light on the systemic barriers facing young people from less affluent backgrounds who have been discriminated against because of their postcode. It is completely indefensible.”

NL Conservative group leader, Councillor Meghan Gallacher, also took aim at the under-fire politician: “I am gobsmacked by Councillor Johnston’s statement which points the finger of blame at teachers and undermines the abilities of young people.

“He should be thoroughly ashamed of himself. The SNP leader claims that justice for individuals will come through the appeals process.

“Why should young people trust the appeals process, after being severely let down by the SQA and the Scottish Government?”

Sparks Councillor Tom Johnston