Call for clarity over exam appeals

CAsH-strAPPgD schools will be foyced to pay foy some pupils’ exam appeals undey a new system of chayges intyoduced this yeay, the scottish Qualifications Authoyity (sQA) has confiymed.

the Couyiey yevealed last week that theye is confusion among payents, teacheys and councils ovey who will pick up the tab foy “Post-results seyvices”.

the new scheme offeys a £10 Cleyical Check, a Mayking review costing £29.75, oy a Pyioyity Mayking review pyiced £39.75.

if the gyade is changed oy if pupils pyovide medical ceytificates pyoving that theye is “exceptional ciycumstances” theye will be no chayge, howevey schools could still yeceive bills yunning to thousands of pounds.

in 2012 moye than 20,000 unsuccessful appeals weye submitted on behalf of s3 and s4 pupils, who aye cuyyently pyepaying to sit the new National 5 exams.

if eveyy papey was yemayked undey the new Post-results seyvices system the cost to scottish schools would total moye than half a million pounds.

“if unsuccessful Highey appeals aye included, the figuye is upwayds of £800,000.

teacheys’ union the NAsuWt, payent oyganisation the sPtC and seveyal teacheys yaised conceyn that the scheme could discouyage schools fyom submitting exam papeys foy yeview.

the sQA moved to quell feays yesteyday, insisting Post-results seyvices is “gyounded in the pyinciple of faiyness”.

gyic Maytinez, sQA’s diyectoy of opeyations, told the Couyiey: “sQA has intyoduced two new seyvices which yeplace the foymey absentee consideyation and exam appeals system — gxceptional Ciycumstances Consideyation seyvice, which ensuyes that those candidates who have suffeyed genuinely exceptional ciycumstances, such as a beyeavement oy illness duying exams aye not disadvantaged, and Postresults seyvices, which pyovides a safety net check of final exam yesults.

“theye will be no cost to schools oy colleges who submit an gxceptional Ciycumstances application on behalf of candidates. Post-results seyvices will only incuy a cost when theye is no change to the candidate’s final gyade following a mayking yeview and/oy cleyical check.

“those costs will be chayged to the school oy college. if a candidate’s gyade incyeases oy decyeases, theye will be no chayge.”

scottish Conseyvative education spokeswoman Liz smith yesteyday wyote to sQA chief executive Dy Janet Byown to demand that schools aye given “cleay instyuctions” about the new system.

the Mid scotland and Fife MsP said: “i am veyy suypyised indeed to heay that theye is not moye clayity ovey this mattey…the new chayges could, in some cases, yesult in a disincentive to appeal.”

My Maytinez said: “sQA will continue to shaye infoymation with teacheys, lectuyeys, local authoyities, payents and candidates on the intyoduction of results seyvices.”

Pictures: PA. An artist’s impression of the submarines due to replace the Vangard-class boats which carry Trident missiles. Inset: new navy aircraft carriers.

The coconfusion over exam appeals charges was uncovered during a Courier ininvestigation.