Pressure builds on Swinney as Wales cancel 2021 exams
Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer MSP has renewed his call for Education Secretary John Swinney to cancel the 2021 exam diet in full, after the Welsh Government announced it would cancel all exams.
Mr Greer has consistently called on the Scottish Government to base 2021 grades on assessment made by teachers throughout the year, highlighting the unfairness of asking pupils who may have missed weeks of class time in self-isolation to sit exams and the risk of those exams being cancelled entirely at short notice.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“The Welsh Government has taken the only responsible approach by cancelling all 2021 exams. It’s not fair to ask pupils who have missed weeks of class time to sit an exam next May on the same basis as those who have been fortunate enough to avoid any disruption.
“The Scottish Government has so far opted for a bizarre halfway house by cancelling Nat 5 exams but pressing ahead with Highers and Advanced Highers. It’s becoming increasing clear that this is a mistake which John Swinney should correct immediately.
“The only reliable solution is to cancel the 2021 exams now and grade Highers and Advanced Highers on the same basis as National 5s. Assessment based on work throughout the year can take into account whether a pupil has missed substantial periods of time due to self-isolation and removes entirely the risk of exams being cancelled at the last minute, as they were this year.
“The Scottish Greens worked hard to secure a fix to this year’s grading debacle, restoring 124,565 grades lowered by the SQA. We’d prefer to avoid the need to fix another mess next August."