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Opposition parties have warned that the SQA does not have the credibility to carry out the review itself, pointing to a “string of scandals” it has been engulfed in in recent years, and argue that it should not be allowed to “mark its homework himself.”
Last month, Yr Herald revealed that teachers, including current exam marks, accused the SQA of ‘moving the goalposts’ and subjecting students to an ‘unfair’ marking process for this year’s Advanced History exam.
They explained that more detailed answers had been demanded than before, and that no notice of the change had been given. As a result, the SQA were accused of “moving the goalposts” after the exam was held.
Critics argued that this revised method was behind a 25% drop in pupils’ performance levels in the Scottish History part of the exam, and a drop of thirteen percentage points in the overall pass rate.
The SQA had insisted that marking had been “consistent with previous years”, and that the sharp drops in test scores and pass rates were simply due to poor student performance, but has now received “concerns raised” by teachers, pupils and opposition politicians. .
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland and the Scottish Youth Parliament also intervened, accusing the exam board of undermining students’ rights.
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The Scottish Government initially refused to intervene, but eventually bowed to pressure on the issue. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth met the chairman and chief examiner of the examination board yesterday via video call, when details of the investigation were revealed.
Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Willie Rennie MSP said: “I am concerned that this is an internal SQA investigation. This is a body that failed to push back on the Scottish Government’s plans to downgrade exam results during the Covid crisis and whose commitment to governing reform looks shaky at best.
“An independent investigation would help to ensure clarity about what has happened.
“As well as ensuring that Higher History pupils are treated fairly, there is also a need for appropriate reform with a new, accountable body of qualifications.”
The Scottish Conservatives’ shadow education secretary, Liam Kerr MSP, said: “After repeatedly denying there was a problem, the SQA are now saying they are carrying out a review. Unfortunately, SQA’s poor record on transparency, and the series of scandals that have hit since the marking trouble in 2020, will not give pupils, parents and teachers much reason for confidence.
“We have been promised change for years again, as the Education Secretary’s statement this week showed, the SNP has done nothing but kick the can down the road again and again. There must be a clear and accountable mechanism for such cases that allows for proper scrutiny, and a thorough overhaul of the qualifications and assessment system, not just a cosmetic fix.”
Scottish Labour’s education spokeswoman Pam Duncan Glancy said: “The SQA should not be able to mark their own homework. Pupils, teachers and parents deserve to know that this is taken seriously and that their concerns have been properly listened to and acted upon.
“The Cabinet Secretary must satisfy himself and others that the review is independent and fair. Given the history of the SQA, it is questionable whether an internal investigation meets that test.
“Trust in the SQA is at an all-time low and the government’s supposed reforms are nothing more than rebranding.”
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A spokesperson for the SQA confirmed that officers had met with Jenny Gilruth “and informed her that, in light of the concerns raised about the marking of Higher History this year, a review is underway”.
“The review is being carried out by SQA’s Head of Standards, who has played no part in the marking of Higher History and is expected to conclude next week. The findings will be published to allow full scrutiny, and if any issues come to light then action will be taken.”
The Scottish Government also confirmed that the meeting had taken place but Yr Herald referred back to the SQA for details of the discussion.
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source link https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24598238.sqa-launches-investigation-unfair-exam-marking/?ref=rss
