Students made to wait until end of March to find out if exams go ahead

PUPILS in Scotland may not find out until the end of March if exams are due to go ahead this year, the Education Secretary has revealed.

Shirley-Anne Somerville yesterday said it was the Government’s intention for secondary school pupils to sit exams this summer – but warned contingencies were in place.

Opposition politicians have argued that making a decision in March would not give pupils and schools enough time to prepare.

The exam diet in Scotland was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, meaning this would be the first time in two years traditional tests would go ahead. Scottish Qualification Authority bosses are planning official assessments, with modifications in place to allow for the disruption to education.

Speaking to BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show, Mrs Somerville said it was ‘still the intention’ for exams to take place.

She added that contingencies include having final grades based on teacher judgments if exams were cancelled.

Scottish Conservative education spokesman Oliver Mundell said: ‘March is far too late to ask pupils and teachers to prepare adequately.’