Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Countdown to exams is on for pupils
Monklands school pupils are on track to sit their exams as scheduled later this year.
It remains the government’s “firm intention”to hold National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams this spring, according to Education Secretary, Shirleyanne Somerville.
It comes as the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has decided to invoke its Scenario 2 contingency and will provide revision support in March to aid learners in preparing for their exams.
The SQA has also announced a series of measures that will support delivery of the qualifications this year.
The measures also acknowledge the disruption caused by the pandemic, meaning exceptional circumstances back-up for learners who are unable to attend their exam or exams due to illness or bereavement; grading exams this year will look to factor in the impact of the pandemic on learners; and once the results have been published, learners will have free direct access to appeal.
Ms Somerville added that £4 million will be used to support schools and colleges to provide targeted exam preparation sessions for learners who need it most over the Easter break.
In a statement delivered in the Scottish Parliament, the Education Secretary said:“it remains my firm intention that exams will take place as planned – they will only be cancelled if public health advice says it isn’t safe.
“While the number of full and partial school closures has been small, it is clear that many secondary schools have experienced extreme disruption as a result of the Omicron variant – particularly in the first half of January – in relation to both student and teacher absences.
“This package of measures is designed to ensure our learners are fully supported in their learning and preparations for the exams this year.”
Earlier this year we told how the Central Scotland list MSP Graham Simpson had called for guarantees that the exams would go ahead as planned.
Mr Simpson stated:“another year of exam chaos is unthinkable given the uncertainty pupils have endured over the last couple of years.”