Latest news with #ScottishQualificationsAuthority
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
SQA accused of 'slap in the face' to teachers
One teacher described the exam board's actions as 'a real slap in the face to those wanting to do the best for the young people in their class.' The country's biggest teaching union said that the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) should have carried out 'proper consultation' with schools and urged them to 'think again' about the changes. The course updates were announced in the SQA's regular newsletter on 15 May and include the removal of an entire question paper from Higher Drama, the introduction of a prescribed text list for another, and alterations to exam questions and marking schemes at National 5 and Advanced Higher levels. According to one senior teacher who approached The Herald, this was the 'first notification' to schools that significant changes would be introduced and made mandatory for the 2025/26 academic year. Under a sub-heading of 'What you'll need to do differently', teachers were informed that they will have to select one of 15 prescribed texts for paper one of the exam. In addition, they were told: 'You'll also need to update your teaching notes and assessment materials to reflect the new marking instructions for both sections of the question paper.' The post confirmed that the updated course specifications and exemplar exam papers would be made available four days later on Monday 19 May. This material was published as planned on the SQA website. Most secondary schools in Scotland begin their new timetables in June once students have returned from exam leave, meaning that teachers have just a few weeks to reconstruct their courses to fit the new requirements. In cases where schools have not previously taught any of the new approved texts, class sets will have to be purchased and entirely new teaching materials developed. The EIS has told its members not to carry out unplanned additional work in order to accommodate 'last minute changes from the SQA". READ MORE: A spokesperson for the SQA insisted that the changes have been 'shaped by the thoughtful feedback shared by teachers, and the timing reflects what was important to them.' They also said that 'a range of resources' will be made available 'in the new session' in order to 'help bring clarity and confidence to the classroom". However, a senior teacher disputed these claims, telling The Herald that the SQA had carried out very limited engagement work and had not presented the proposed set text list to teacher to gather their opinions on the plays to be included. They added that the decision to impose the changes immediately creates an 'obvious workload issue' and financial challenges that the SQA should address. In addition to the logistical concerns being raised by teachers, the new set text list has also been described as disappointing and uninspired, with some arguing that it will make it more difficult for teachers to engage young people in the subject. The only women with work included as a set text are Shelagh Delaney (A Taste of Honey), Liz Lochhead (Dracula), Ena Lamont Stewart (Men Should Weep), Zinnie Harris (The Duchess (of Malfi)). An SQA spokesperson told The Herald that the selections on the new list are 'based on the most popular responses' in previous exams, and that the list will be 'reviewed regularly top ensure it remains relevant". The new list of set texts for Higher Drama (Image: James McEnaney) Speaking to The Herald on condition of anonymity, one current drama teacher said that the SQA has 'failed to recognise the huge implications of introducing a set text list and new marking scheme just a few weeks before the change of timetable." They continued: 'In a time where unions are voicing concerns for teachers health and wellbeing as well as workload it's a real slap in the face to those wanting to do the best for the young people in their class. 'I'm hugely concerned at the lack of diversity on the new list - it does not represent a contemporary Scotland. There are no BAME texts, very few females on the list. It's made up with a majority of white men.' Commenting on changes to marking approaches, the teacher added that these have 'now been dumbed down' and expressed a fear that drama will 'now be looked down on by universities' when setting entry requirements. Anne Keenan, Assistant General Secretary of the EIS, said: 'Clearly, where it is necessary to make changes to a course in any subject following what should be consultation with teachers through their representative bodies, it is essential that schools and teachers are provided with adequate information and time to prepare. The workload demands of changes to a course are substantial, and can add significantly to existing teacher workload if not managed correctly. In addition, changes to courses can bring with them resource requirements which place an even greater strain on already tight school budgets. 'In planning any changes to courses, the SQA must be fully cognisant to the impact on schools, teachers and students. It is also important that due consideration be given to the appropriateness of the required materials, including the equality impact of the selected texts. 'Proper consultation with teacher trade unions would have led to much stronger equality considerations at an early stage. The EIS continues to advise members that there can be no expectation that last-minute changes from the SQA will be accommodated over and above existing agreements in respect of teachers' working time. 'The SQA should think again.' The Herald approached the SQA to ask why course changes were being pushed through for the coming school year and whether the exam board would consider a delay in response to concerns raised. Their spokesperson said: 'Following feedback from stakeholders, and evidence gathered from past years' assessments whereby learners were not taking advantage of the full range of marks available to them in the Higher Drama exam, SQA took the decision to review the Higher Drama question paper and the accompanying marking instructions. 'This was done to consolidate the question paper and give learners the best opportunity to maximise their marks from the paper. Feedback received indicated that there was a desire among teachers to adopt the changes for the 2025-26 session. 'These changes were shaped by the thoughtful feedback shared by teachers, and the timing reflects what was important to them. 'To support teachers through this transition, a range of resources will be available in the new session. These will include an event, a webinar, and understanding standards material – such as exemplar answers and commentaries – to help bring clarity and confidence to the classroom. 'We're grateful to teachers for their input, which played a key role in shaping these developments.'
Times
22-05-2025
- General
- Times
Pandemic exam grading linked to rise in university dropouts
Schools awarding qualifications when exams were scrapped during the pandemic has led to the highest university dropout rate in at least a decade. About one in eight students abandoned university before year two in 2022-23, the highest dropout rate since at least 2013-14. It has been attributed to the cancellation of exams during Covid-19 when qualifications were determined by teacher judgment. Schools were asked to predict exam results for nationals, highers and advanced highers based on a pupil's past performance, but the exams authority then amended 133,000 entries according to each school's past performance, with only 7 per cent adjusted upwards. The vast majority were amended downwards by a full grade. The ensuing row fatally undermined confidence in the Scottish Qualifications Authority and contributed
Times
22-05-2025
- Times
Teachers told to scrutinise pupils' work as plagiarism by AI soars
The number of pupils caught cheating through plagiarism almost doubled last year with dozens caught using artificial intelligence for the first time. There were 92 instances of malpractice by plagiarism in 2024, including 31 linked to AI. This is up from 54 the previous year, when no AI-related cases were detected. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has used antiplagiarism software such as SafeAssign and Turnitin to detect signs of other peoples' work for years, but advances in technology have recently allowed assessors to detect the use of artificial intelligence. Turnitin introduced an AI detector in 2023 amid the rise of publicly available generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. More than 400 Scottish university students have been caught using AI to cheat over the past two
The Herald Scotland
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
How do you solve a problem like SQA reform?
After spending more than £1 million on independent reviews, surveys and other investigations into education reform, the Scottish Government has changed very little about the structure of the country's education system since 2021. Major recommendations have been set aside, and proposing legislation to institute changes continued to be delayed for a variety of reasons. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth has at times alternated between advocating for change, calling for caution and more time to consult with teachers, and now more recently warning committee members at Holyrood that further delay could mean derailing the processes underway. This, for the most part, refers to changes to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). The SQA has been the main focal point of discussions about reform. In some ways, it has become a distraction from bigger questions about what education in Scotland should look like and the values it should reflect. In 2021, the government committed to replacing the SQA. It was not until 2024, however, with the presentation of the Education (Scotland) Bill, that it finally set down a plan for doing so. Questions swirl around the bill, its full implications and particularly whether it has enough teeth to force the qualifications body to bring about the changes teachers, students and politicians want to see. One of the challenges is the overall lack of decision-makers who fully understand the SQA's role and the logistics of the Scottish qualifications system more generally. While the education committee discussed a list of more than 350 amendments – an amount one MSP called 'astonishing', and others said illustrated fundamental problems with the bill – it became clear that the person in the room with the qualifications needed to be involved in this kind of discussion was Ms Gilruth. In fact, MSP Willie Rennie stated openly at one point in the discussion: 'I do not think that we all fully understand how the accreditation function within the SQA currently works.' This is at first concerning because this committee is tasked with debating and pushing key legislative aspects of education reform in Scotland. But it may also suggest that the system itself has been allowed to grow into one so complex that it is hard for outsiders – as in those outside of the SQA, Education Scotland, and the core government ministers – to wrap their heads around. During that same committee meeting, there was a constant tension between the inability to find a compromise and the constant threat of running out of time. Teachers, students and the general public have been given to think of the SQA as an organisation has been dead in the water since 2021. It is set to officially close in December. Given how long it has taken to reach this point, it is understandable that the government is eager not to let another promise go unmet. But spare a thought for the 'cost' in the phrase 'reform at any cost.' Amidst the gridlock, opposition parties continue to argue that 'all options are better than the status quo". That attitude is, in itself dangerous, as The Herald's Education Specialist James McEnaney argues. This leaves would-be reformers with the question: is something better than nothing? Is bad reform better than the status quo? For teachers and education experts who have been grappling with the revolving door of powers-that-be to change a system which has become so entrenched it now feels inevitable, it is not really a question.
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- General
- Scotsman
and how to find out this year's grade boundaries
As exams near their end, students begin the months-long wait for results ✍ Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scotland's secondary school exam season runs from late April to early June this year As usual, results will not be released until August There are a total of four passing grades students can receive in their Nationals or Highers These can be further broken down into bands Scotland's secondary school exam season is now well underway. The 2024/25 summer National 5 and Higher exam series runs from April 25 through to June 2 this year. Students will then face a months-long wait to find out how they did, with conditional university offers and other post-secondary school opportunities hanging in the balance for many. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The latest exam season comes during a time of upheaval for the country's awarding organisation, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which is set to be replaced later this year. While this is not expected to greatly impact this year's exams or the young people taking them, further reviews and reforms to national assessments are currently in the works. But when exactly will students sitting their Nationals and Highers this summer get their results? What do the different grades mean - and how can they find out how close they were to getting a higher grade? Here's what you need to know: Scottish students will find out how they did in their exams in August | (Image:) When is SQA results day this year? Unlike the rest of the UK, which has separate results days for GCSEs (roughly equivalent to National 5 qualifications) and A Levels (equivalent to Higher qualifications), SQA only has the one. This year, it will fall on Tuesday, August 5, the exam board says. From that morning, results qualification certificates should arrive at all candidates' homes via first class post. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For those that have also registered with MySQA online before the deadline - July 16 this year - will also get their results emailed and text messaged to them. These will start rolling out from 8am onwards. How are exams marked - and what do the different grades mean? After students sit their exams, the papers are sent off to be marked. SQA's policy, analysis and standards director Martyn Ware previously wrote that their markers - all experienced teachers and lecturers - will grade more than 1.3 million assessments during this time. After that, the exam board will hold a grade boundary meeting 'for every subject at every level,' to decide how many marks are needed to achieve each grade. This can change based on how pupils found the exam that year, to 'make sure that the results reached are a fair and correct reflection of the standard of the work completed'. At both National 5 and Higher level - and even for Advanced Highers - there are a total of four passing grades available. These are A, B, C and D. Candidates who don't reach the minimum amount of marks required to achieve a D will get a grade of 'no award' - meaning they haven't received that qualification. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad However, within the passing grades are grade bands. This means students are technically receiving an upper or lower A, B, or C depending on how many marks they get. This information is not included on your certificate, but SQA says that your school or college should be able to tell you your grade band and how many marks you were given - or you can request this information from SQA directly. What will the grade boundaries be in 2025? Grade boundaries, the minimum amount of marks students need to receive any given grade, are usually not released until results day, when they will be made available on the SQA website. This is because these are set once marking is completed, so that how difficult students found a particular paper that year can be taken into account. While they can vary a little year-on-year, grade boundaries are often quite consistent. This means that students can look to 2024's boundaries for a general idea of how well they'll need to do. As an example, students sitting their National 5 qualification in English last year needed 72 out of 100 possible marks to receive an A grade, and just 39 to receive a D - the lowest passing grade. In the mathematics National, they needed 64 of 90 possible marks to achieve an A, and 35 to get a D. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For older students taking their Highers, they needed 67 of 100 possible marks to score an A, and 38 for a D. In mathematics, they needed 84 out of 120 marks for an A, and 46 for a D. You can find the full list of SQA's grade boundaries for each subject last year online here.
