The crisis engulfing the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) looks set to deepen this afternoon as MSPs prepare for a vote that could see them declare it has lost the confidence of Parliament.
It comes after Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced young people taking part in this year's alternative certification model (ACM) would be able to appeal directly to the exams body if they are unhappy with results. However, there is mounting anger that pupils could see grades revised up or down.
Critics are also concerned that the planned process appears not to include provision for challenges based on "exceptional individual circumstances" such as bereavement, ill-health or inadequate access to devices for remote teaching.
READ MORE: Education Secretary at centre of growing storm
However, the SQA has introduced a September 3 extension for those who have suffered severe disruption to learning and are unlikely to have all their evidence gathered in time for the June 25 submission date. The appeals service will also be free.
MSPs will later debate and vote on an amendment, tabled by Green MSP Ross Greer, that calls on Parliament to express regret for “the additional stress and anxiety felt by students, teachers, parents and carers as a result of the 2021 Alternative Certification Model”.
Parliament is also being asked to confirm it “believes that this could have largely been avoided had the SQA taken on board the conclusions of the Priestley review into the 2020 Alternative Certification Model, and more effectively prepared for the impact of COVID-19 in 2020-21; further believes that the 2021 appeals process should adopt a no-detriment policy and that provision should be made for appeals based on exceptional individual circumstances; notes with regret the repeated underperformance of the SQA, and expresses its lack of confidence in the body’s ability to fulfill its duties."
READ MORE: Glasgow schools boss calls for grades overhaul
The debate is likely to result in deadlock given the SNP has 64 seats at Holyrood. In that eventuality, Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone would have the casting vote.
Although the amendment is not binding on the Government, formal backing for it would put ministers under immense pressure to act in response to concerns over the SQA's performance.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel