Strike could delay exam results for thousands

SCHOOL exam results face chaos as staff at Scotland’s qualifications body threaten to strike.

Tens of thousands of pupils are scheduled to receive the results of their National Fives, Highers and Advanced Highers in August.

But Unite, the union representing workers at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), is preparing to ballot for industrial action that could disrupt results day.

A strike could mean a delay in pupils receiving their results – boosting their anxiety at a crucial point in their academic career.

Unite, which represents hundreds of SQA employees, is angry at restructuring within the organisation and is preparing to ballot its members.

Regional industrial officer Alison MacLean said: ‘Could we do something really embarrassing on results day? Absolutely. We could make quite an impact. These are all things we are considering.’

Unite has a meeting scheduled with the Advisory, Conciliation And Arbitration Service (ACAS) on April 10.

Miss MacLean said: ‘Unless something miraculous happens at the meeting, and I hope it does, we need to prepare for the worst. Unless there is a resolution our members are happy with, we are planning to push ahead with the plan to ballot.

‘However, if there are any changes at ACAS, that may have an impact.”

She added that Unite was in the final stages of planning to ballot members and ready to continue with industrial action plans, saying: ‘It’s likely it would be during results time.’

Exam results day is vital for tens of thousands of students. Last year, the SQA oversaw 282,000 National Fives, 192,000 Highers and 24,000 Advanced Highers. Exams this year are due to start on April 25.

Unite insisted any strike action would not stop pupils sitting exams.

Miss MacLean said: ‘We can’t take it out on the kids. The children will absolutely sit their exams, the SQA will have a contingency for that.’

An SQA spokesman said: ‘We continue to work co-operatively and collaboratively with our recognised trade unions and are continuing with formal discussions about the issues raised.

‘The 2019 exams diet is on track. SQA is, as always, committed to ensuring candidates receive results on time. We have an established governance framework in place, where progress and risks are managed, supported by robust contingency plans.’