Schools’ performance must be axed to ensure grades fairness

The past exam performance of schools must be axed as a factor deciding youngsters’ grades this year in the forthcoming appeals process for qualifications, opposition parties have said.

They are also demanding a “no detriment” approach be adopted which would see pupils given a grade no lower than that from their prelims.

About120,00oftheestimated grades submitted by teachers were “downgraded” by qualification chiefs, it emerged as the results came out on Tuesday. All qualifications were based on estimates this year because coronavirus caused the cancellation of exams.

But thousands of parents and pupils have now signed a petition hitting out at the moderation process. They claim the system used by the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA), which partly took into account a school’s results from previous years, meant pupils in schools with historically lower attainment – which are generally in more deprived areas – were losing out.

This was rejected by Education Secretary John Swinney, who insisted that three-quarters of the estimates submitted by teachers were upheld.

But Scottish Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said the SQA must ensure the appeals system will now guarantee candidates have not been marked down based on the past performance of their schools.

He said: “The Deputy First Minister must commit to ensuring that the appeals process does not judge pupils by the same twisted criteria. Otherwise the pupils from deprived backgrounds will continue to be marked down based on the past performance of their schools.

“In spite of calls from experts, parents, teachers and Scottish Labour, the SQA resisted publishing its marking scheme for this week’s results until it was too late to head off this totally unnecessary shambles.

“There will likewise be no confidence in the appeals system unless the SQA publishes appeals guidelines which make clear that this discriminatory framework has been abandoned.

“Unless he can ensure this happens and candidates can secure justice, the Deputy First Minister’s position will become untenable.”

The pressure on Mr Swinney yesterday also saw the Greens call for the SQA to adopt the approach of universities this year – they implemented “no detriment” policies to ensure students weren’t treated unfairly due missing classes in the pandemic. Such an approach in schools would mean young people get a grade no lower than what they achieved in their prelim exam.

Greens education spokesman Ross Greer said: “The SQA and the Scottish Government were warned by the Greens, yet they pressed ahead with this scandalous grade moderation system, one that has clearly penalised thousands of young people simply for living in less well-off communities.

“A no-detriment policy might not solve all of the problems created by the SQA, but it would see a significant number of young people be awarded a grade far closer to the one they deserve.

“I’ve been shocked by the messages from young people who achieved an A in their prelims but were then awarded C or even D grades by the SQA.”

Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie also criticised the moderation method, which he warned “has shackled well-performing pupils in average schools by historical results over which they have had no control”, in a letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

He said: “I cannot fathom why there was no early transparency, scrutiny and discussion of the complex methodology used by the Scottish Qualifications Authority that has led to this injustice on a such large scale.”

He is calling for an expanded appeals process and discussions with universities and colleges about admissions deadlines to ensure that pupils do not lose out on places.

Mr Swinney insisted yesterday that three out of every four estimates put forward by teachers were “sustained” by the SQA, adding that the pass rate at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher all increased.

But he added: “I would accept that there will be individual results which will cause disappointment.”

He urged pupils disappointed with their results to take advantage of the free appeals process.

“That remains open to young people and I would encourage any young person who feels disappointed by the result, who feels they should have had a better result, to use that service which is available to them.”

Mr Swinney also rejected claims that youngsters from schools in more deprived areas have lost out in this year’s grades.

“I don’t think the data bears that out,” he said.

“In the most deprived communities, young people last year had a pass rate of 65.3 per cent, that increased by 4.6 points to 69.9 per cent.

“In the least deprived backgrounds, young people had a pass rate of 81.7 per cent last year and it increased by 2.9 points to 84.6 per cent.

“That shows a larger increase amongst young people in more deprived backgrounds.”