AN MSP has slammed the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) after bosses announced they will not publish details on how they will grade students until after they have got their results.

Ross Greer branded the plan a “recipe for disaster” after the Scottish Parliament’s education and skills committee was told of the proposal in a letter from the exam board.

All Scottish exams were cancelled this year for the first time in history due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and grades will instead be based on estimates submitted by teachers.

The letter from SQA chief executive Fiona Robertson stated the board would be “very clear” about the moderation process on results day but would not be detailing any methodology for finalising grades before then.

Mr Greer, who represents Renfrewshire as part of his West Scotland remit, said: “Public confidence in this year’s grading system is critical, so keeping its details a secret until after results day is a recipe for disaster.

“How can teachers and pupils in Renfrewshire make informed judgements about appeals, for example, when they don’t know the model the SQA has used to change a pupil’s grade until after that grade has been issued?

"It only leaves them with a few days to get their heads round the system.”

Ms Robertson stated in her letter: “I would expect on results day this year to be very clear about the process we have undertaken and the resulting awards we have provided to young people. This will include the impact of any moderation process.

“Results day is normally the point at which we are clear about the outcome of our awarding decisions and we believe it should be the same this year.”

The SQA’s letter also confirmed an equalities impact assessment (EQIA) of the grading system – which will see pupils’ results moderated up or down, depending on what school they go to – has not yet been completed.

Scotland’s Equalities and Human Rights Commissioner has already expressed concerns about the legality of the SQA’s plans, which Mr Greer has echoed.

The Green MSP, who is a member of the education and skills committee, added: “The SQA came up with a grading system and announced it publicly before even finishing it or conducting a legally-required equalities impact assessment.

“What will they do if the EQIA concludes, as appears to be obvious, that the use of a school’s historic exam results during moderation will put pupils from more deprived communities at an unacceptable disadvantage?”

The SQA was approached for comment.

Read all the latest from Renfrewshire and beyond

******************

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We're not exaggerating when we say the future of local newspapers and the vital service we have provided for many years is under threat.

Please consider supporting The Gazette in whatever way you can - by paying just 90p for a copy of the newspaper when you're shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others or by subscribing to our e-edition here.