MSP welcomes review of University offers after SQA awards change
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Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin has welcomed a move by the Scottish Government to ensure new provision is made for school leavers impacted by downgraded exam results to access further and higher education.
It comes after Deputy First Minister and Education Secretary John Swinney instructed the SQA to withdraw downgraded results of pupils in this year’s examination process.
Final grades for pupils with results which were lower than estimated will now be based on initial teacher-based predictions and the SQA will provide new certificates for students impacted.
The SQA will also inform UCAS and other admission bodies of the new grades as soon as possible in order for pupil applications to be processed.
Ms Martin, a former college lecturer, asked what discussions had taken placed with higher and further education institutions on how additional sspaces would be made available.
The Education Secretary said he had discussions on the matter, with the Scottish Funding Council working to address any issues once there is a “clearer idea” of the spaces required once fresh exam results are awarded to those affected.
Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said: “Many young people across Aberdeenshire have worked incredibly hard this year in unprecedented conditions amid the coronavirus lockdown and without a final examination process.
“I am pleased that a decision has been taken to withdraw adjusted grades awarded using a statistical model and to move to teacher-based assessments.
“I know the last four months have been incredibly challenging for young people preparing for the next chapter in their education and I hope this anncouncement will provide them with the opportunity to pursue their goals at college or university. John Swinney has listened to pupils, teachers and parents and done the right thing. “
Pupils whose results were downgraded by the SQA are to receive new grades based solely on teacher estimates.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney apologised to the 75,000 young people whose estimated mark was reduced by the SQA on Tuesday and said that the downgraded awards could lead to the situation where: "young people, particularly from working class backgrounds may lose faith in education and form the view that no matter how hard you work, the system is against you."
The SQA will now inform schools of the revised results by Friday, August 21 for schools to tell pupils.
In order to learn lessons and plan for next year ministers have asked Professor Mark Priestley of Stirling University to conduct an independent review of the events following the cancellation of the examination diet and make recommendations for the coming year.
This will initially report within five weeks.
The OECD’s ongoing independent review of Curriculum for Excellence will be asked to include recommendations on how to transform Scotland’s approach to assessment and qualifications, based on global best practice.
In his statement Mr Swinney said: “These are exceptional times, and in exceptional times truly difficult decisions are made.
"In speaking directly to the young people affected by the downgrading of awards – the seventy-five thousand pupils whose teacher estimates were higher than their final award - I want to say this: I am sorry.
“I have listened and the message is clear.
"They don’t just want an apology, they want to see this fixed and that is exactly what I will now do.
"To resolve this issue all downgraded awards will be withdrawn. I am directing the SQA to re-issue those awards based solely on teacher or lecturer judgement.
“We now accept that the risk of undermining the value of qualifications is outweighed by a concern that young people, particularly from working class backgrounds, may lose faith in education and form the view that no matter how hard you work, the system is against you.
"Education is the route out of poverty for young people in deprived communities and we cannot risk allowing that view to take hold.
“The SQA will issue fresh certificates to affected candidates as soon as possible and, importantly, will inform UCAS and other admission bodies of the new grades as soon as practical in the coming days to allow for applications to college and university to be progressed.
“I would like to thank all of Scotland’s children, young people and adult learners for the incredible resilience they have shown throughout the Covid-19 epidemic.
"We are immensely proud of all that they have achieved.
"I hope that our pupils now move forward confidently to their next step in education, employment or training with the qualifications that teachers or lecturers have judged were deserved.
“We will look to learn lessons from the process to awarding qualifications this year that will help to inform any future actions."
