Tsunami ofexam appeals expected

Teachers have made a plea for more time to process the expected “tsunami” of appeals following the return to normal National and Higher exams.

West Lothian Council is backing teaching union calls with exams due to start in April for pupils.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has decided to press ahead with exams starting in just over a month, despite schools seeing a surge in Covid cases, with pupils and teachers absent.

Heather Hughes, the local secretary of the EIS Scotland’s largest teaching union, won agreement from the council’s education executive to write to the Scottish Government making a case to give staff extra time.

The EIS has already written with its demands to the Scottish Government.

Mrs Hughes asked the executive to back the union and submit its own plea.

She said: “With the spike we have in Covid cases just now hitting the schools we are expecting a real tsunami of appeals. Teachers will not have time to process these appeals in the very short window given.”

Interim head of secondary schools Catrina Hatch said: “We would be happy to do that if the education executive wishes to take that forward. There is a definite possibility for an increase in appeals.”

It was one of several concerns the union aired as the SQA revealed an exams timetable that will run from 26 April to 1 June 2022.

Pupils will receive their results on Tuesday 9 August 2022.

A range of support measures have also been put in place to help pupils affected by Covid, including revision materials and classes and a framework for a broader scope for appeals.

Plans are in place for Easter revision in schools during the holidays in the first two weeks of April.

A report to the executive stressed: “If changes to public health advice mean that exams can no longer be safely held, SQA will ask teachers and lecturers to use their professional judgement of assessment evidence to determine pupils’ grades. This professional judgement would be based on ongoing evidence gathered over the course of the school year.”

The EIS raised questions about the Easter programme as well as the appeals process. Specifically Mrs Hughes was concerned about the range of support in subjects available across the 11 high schools in West Lothian.