Scottish Secretary: Exams moderation disgraceful

SCOTTISH Secretary Alister Jack yesterday described the moderation of pupils’ exam results across the country as ‘disgraceful’.

He criticised the ‘postcode lottery’ created by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), disproportionately downgrading the marks of pupils from deprived backgrounds, partly based on schools’ historic performances.

Mr Jack said that Education Secretary John Swinney ‘has shown a lack of judgment’, while his Westminster counterpart Gavin Williamson is ‘very aware’ of the anger from pupils and parents about the situation ahead of the release of GCSE and A-level results in England.

Speaking before First Minister Nicola Sturgeon apologised for the exams situation, Mr Jack suggested affected pupils could be offered the chance to sit the exams that were cancelled during the coronavirus lockdown. He said he is ‘worried’ about a system that resulted in pass rates for pupils in the most deprived data zones being reduced by 15.2 per cent, compared with 6.9 per cent for pupils from the most affluent backgrounds.

‘I think that’s disgraceful and it is a postcode lottery for them,’ Mr Jack said.

‘I also think that John Swinney – who has shown a lack of judgment on this to date – needs to actually be careful that he doesn’t come up with an even worse solution in a knee-jerk reaction to the outcry.

‘I hope he’s just taking his time and thinking carefully.’

He added: ‘There needs to be an appeals process that is quick for those children and possibly the option to retake their exams as well.’