Appeal for clarity over 2021 exams

JOHN Swinney has been told to draw up what criteria will be needed for next year’s Higher exams to go ahead.

The Education Secretary confirmed on Wednesday that the 2021 Highers and Advanced Highers will take place, although contingency plans will be established in case the ambition is not possible.

The National 5 exams, due to take place in 2021, have been scrapped after Mr Swinney followed recommendations by Professor Mark Priestly, who carried out an independent review of this year’s exams fiasco.

All of this year’s exams were cancelled due to the pandemic but the Scottish Government was forced into a U-turn over the method used to determine grades based on teacher estimates.

But after moderation by the SQA, partly based on a school’s past performance, thousands of pupils had their marks downgraded from initial teacher estimates – with those from less affluent backgrounds hit hardest.

Scottish Labour’s education spokesman

Iain Gray has written to Mr Swinney calling for urgent clarity on the National 5 assessments that will be used to determine grades.

Mr Swinney has also be asked to set out when and on what basis the 2021 Highers exams will be allowed to take place, guarantee pupils that their course work will be prioritised in determining grades and ensure a review into the appeals process will take place with the input of the Children’s Commissioner.

Mr Gray said: “The Priestley Report unveiled a litany of failures on behalf of the Education Secretary and the SQA.

“We cannot risk a repeat of the catastrophic SQA results fiasco next year.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “The alternative approach for National 5s will be based on teacher judgment, supported by assessment resources”.