SQA under fire for 'unacceptable secrecy' over survey data

Critics have attacked the “unacceptable secrecy” of the organisation, which was described as "staggering", as well as the "minor rebranding" of the SQA as part of the Scottish Government's ongoing education reforms.

The Herald can confirm that the SQA has been carrying out annual surveys of teachers, students, parents and carers, and employers in order to track different groups’ views on the credibility of the exam board. The work is carried out by an independent research company conducting online surveys, telephone interviews and face-to-face data gathering.

As part of a recently published corporate report from the SQA, called ‘A Prospectus for Change’, officials set out a series of “deliverable” measures that would be used to assess the organisation’s progress as it carries out a “year-long transition from SQA to Qualifications Scotland.”

In a section focused on the pledge to “build credibility and trust”, officials have presented specific targets around four key metrics. The report states that, by 2027, the SQA will:

• Double teachers’ engagement score in schools

• Double score for credibility with teachers in schools

• Increase learners’ engagement score in schools by 50%

• Increase learners’ credibility score in schools by 50%

The targets have been set as part of the organisation’s attempts to “reset” its relationship with key groups and “win back their trust”.

The goal of doubling the teachers’ scores suggests that these metrics are currently no higher than 50%, and could be significantly lower.

However, the SQA has not confirmed the current scores for any of these metrics, despite an approach from The Herald to do so. The organisation said that it would release “further detail” on the scores in December, and claimed that internal processes prevent it from providing the information immediately.

When The Herald requested the release of equivalent data from recent years, we were told that the methodology for the survey had been changed and that it is therefore not possible to draw a comparisons. No further data was provided.

An extract from the recent SQA corporate report (Image: Scottish Qualifications Authority) The new SQA report is the latest stage in a process that began in 2021 when the Scottish Government announced that the exam board was to be scrapped and replaced. The Scottish Government engaged Prof Ken Muir to lead a review of both the SQA and Education Scotland, however key recommendations – including splitting the exam board into two bodies to prevent existing conflicts of interest – have been rejected by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.

The Scottish Government has also been criticised for the decision to keep the SQA leadership in place, with critics arguing that the proposed changes amount to little more than a rebrand.

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Scottish Conservatives’ education spokesperson Miles Briggs said: “This unacceptable secrecy is typical of the SQA’s high-handed dismissal of its serial failures. The fact that it’s being wheeled out as part of their programme for reform is a very bad omen.

“There are already strong indications that SNP ministers have waved through what is no more than a cosmetic rebrand, so it’s small wonder that it has little credibility with teachers.

“If Scotland’s supervising body on exams is not transparent about how it intends to fix its terrible record, it cannot expect to restore credibility and trust.”

Scottish Labour Education spokesperson Pam Duncan-Glancy said “The public deserve transparency about the SQA’s performance and this secrecy is staggering.

“These targets show how far the SQA has to go to earn the trust of teachers – it’s clear the SNP’s plans for a superficial rebrand won’t cut it.

“The SNP also has no credibility on education, defending the SQA at every turn and fostering a culture of cover-up.

“After years of mismanagement and secrecy, it’s no wonder trust in Scottish education is collapsing.”

A spokesperson for the EIS, Scotland's largest teaching union, warned that a "minor rebranding" of the SQA will not be enough to solve its problems.

They said: "Regardless of any ‘scores on the doors’ style measurement of teachers’ trust and confidence in the SQA, the EIS is clear that in the creation of Qualifications Scotland, lessons must be learned from the past.

"Culture change is critical to avoiding a re-run of the distant, remote, unresponsive ways of working with the teaching profession and other stakeholders, that finally led to the Scottish Government’s decision to disband the SQA – a decision roundly welcomed by the teaching profession. The new qualifications agency must therefore be designed and supported to form and maintain relationships with teachers and learners that are solidly built on trust. We are clear that this can only happen if the professional voice of Scotland’s teachers is at the heart of decision making in the new organisation. 

"As it stands, though, the EIS remains concerned that under current legislative proposals, we are looking at plans merely for some minor rebranding rather than the fundamental change that is so desperately needed, with teacher voice continuing to be under-represented in the governance and decision making of Qualifications Scotland. The challenges facing the new body – including the ongoing reform of qualifications and assessment – are significant and can only be overtaken successfully in full collaboration with Scotland’s teachers. For this to happen, trade unions and professional associations need to have some seats at the table."

A SQA spokesperson said that "engagement and credibility scores will be released next month so any claim that we are refusing to publish them is plainly ludicrous."

The Scottish Government refused to comment.