Stirling MSP Bruce Crawford has welcomed the recent decision from John Swinney the Scottish Education Secretary, to reverse the moderation of SQA grades.
Pupils will now be awarded grades in line their teacher estimates instead of the moderation system previously adopted by the SQA in which pupil’s discovered their results had been downgraded and that a school’s prior academic history was a factor in the moderation process.
Across Scotland data showed that with the moderation in place, overall, attainment had increased this year based on last year’s results.
However, many pupils received results much lower than they were expecting.
MSP Bruce Crawford said his office had been contacted by “a number of concerned parents and pupils over the past couple of weeks, and my heart went out to those who felt that they lost out.”
Crawford added that the moderation system was “put in place with the best of intentions during an unprecedented pandemic crisis, which saw school exams cancelled this year. However, the model used was clearly flawed in a number of cases, and John Swinney has done the right thing in reversing it.
It is welcome news that attainment for young people from the lowest 40% in household income has increased the most, the Scottish Government has invested heavily over the parliamentary term to tackle the attainment gap between high and low income families.
Pupils will receive confirmation of their revised grades later this month, and the SQA will be issuing updated certificates. If any pupil is unhappy with the grades estimated by their school, they can appeal directly to the SQA.”
The updated grades will be confirmed by August 21.
Image credit: Herald Scotland
