Swinney U-turn on exam results
Swinney revokes downgraded exam results & promises grades will be based on estimates
ABOUT 75,000 school pupils breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after forcing John Swinney to reinstate 125,000 grades that were lowered during the results fiasco.
The humbled Education Secretary apologised to those affected and said the downgrades would be reversed, with marks now based on the original estimates of their teachers.
He made the U-turn after Labour backed a motion of no confidence in him in a vote set to take place tomorrow.
However, his job may be safe after the Greens said they would not support the attempt to oust him.
After the cancellation of exams, final marks were based on teacher judgment and a national “moderation” system devised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
However, the moderation process was based on how schools performed in the past, rather than reflecting the pupils’ own efforts.
Nearly 125,000 grade reductions disproportionately hit young people from poorer backgrounds and more than 75,000 pupils had one or more grades reduced.
The system infuriated parents and pupils and the SNP Government faced one of its biggest crises since winning power in 2007.
Addressing MSPs, Swinney said: “In speaking directly to the young people affected by the downgrading of awards, the 75,000 pupils whose teacher estimates were higher than their final award, I want to say this – I am sorry.
“I have listened and the message is clear. They don’t just want an apology, they want to see this fixed and that is exactly what
I will now do. To resolve this issue, all downgraded awards will be withdrawn.
“I am directing the SQA to reissue those awards based solely on teacher or lecturer judgement.”
Scrapping the downgrades means this year’s Higher pass rate is 89.2 per cent, a huge increase of 14.4 percentage points on last year. The Advanced Higher pass rate hit 93.1 per cent, up 13.7 points on 2019.
Swinney admitted that the SNP Government now accepts “that the risk of undermining the value of qualifications is outweighed by a concern that young people, particularly from working class backgrounds, may lose faith in education and form the view that no matter how hard you work, the system is against you”.
He also said the SQA will provide the new grades to college and university admissions bodies, and ensure there are enough places in further and higher education.
Opposition parties were scathing that it had taken so long for the Scottish Government’s U-turn.
Labour MSP Iain Gray repeated his call for Swinney to resign.
He said: “Another day, another humiliating climbdown from the Education Secretary.
“The restoration of pupils’ achievement based on the judgment of teachers who know them is a victory for fairness, for common sense and above all for those young people who refused to take this injustice lying down.
“I commend him for taking responsibility now and trying to fix this. But I ask him,
will he take responsibility for this happening in the first place, and resign?”
Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “John Swinney needs to understand that he is part of the problem, not the solution.”
Tory MSP Jamie Greene said: “The SNP defended their shocking handling of this scandal to the hilt, right up until it became clear that opposition parties would unite to force a change.
“Young people and their parents have completely lost confidence in John Swinney. He has been asleep at the wheel for months.”
However, Green MSP Ross Greer, a critic of the original SQA system, welcomed the U-turn: “I warned for four months that this would happen, and that it would be unacceptable.
“Unfortunately, the Education Secretary and the SQA refused to listen then but I am glad that they are listening now.”
Universities Scotland convener Gerry McCormac said: “We welcome the
Scottish Government’s recognition of the need for additional funded places for students.
“We look forward to receiving the data related to how many additional places are needed and the detail regarding the relaxation of rules limiting universities’ recruitment of Scottish students.”