Question reference: S5W-33903
- Asked by: Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 8 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by John Swinney on 18 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that pupils (a) who have had to self-isolate and (b) whose teachers have had to self-isolate are not disadvantaged by the 2021 assessment process.
Answer
We have been putting the right support in place at national level to ensure that remote learning is supported for those who need it. I do, however, recognise that some learners have lost significant amounts of teaching time in the current situation, and we cannot guarantee that there will be no further disruption to learning. Our priority is to ensure that the approach to assessment is fair to all.
My statement to Parliament on 8 December 2020 outlined further changes to the awarding of National Qualifications in 2020-2021, with the cancellation of Higher and Advanced Higher exams.
I have asked the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to build on its collaborative work in developing the alternative certification model for National 5 and consider this as the basis for a model for Highers and Advanced Highers this year.
I have judged that teacher based assessment of learner attainment evidence is the best approach to delivering fairness under the current circumstances of variable disruption to learning. This approach will also allow for some additional teaching and learning time over the period when exams would usually be held will help to alleviate some of the disruption to learning.
As part of the approach to assessing National Qualifications in 2020–2021, SQA is exploring what further measures may be appropriate to take account of COVID-related disruption to learning and assessment, including for those learners suffering the most significant levels of disruption.