Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Anyone work for the SQA? Exams and COVID-19

66 replies

BeanieBabe · 16/03/2020 09:53

Does anyone have any insider information from the SQA regarding plans for this year's exams? Nobody seems to have heard anything but surely they're having discussions. Rumour in our school is that they will use prelim results - this would be great in our house but I know many others who wouldn't be happy. Obviously music, drama etc are filming their practicals and subjects with small numbers could easily have the pupils at desks spaced very far apart in the halls. But this would be impossible for other subjects

Thoughts??

OP posts:
celtiethree · 16/03/2020 11:31

I genuinely don’t see how they can use prelims, esp as the appeal process was changed to essentially remark only (full or technical). Rightly or wrongly prelims aren’t seen as the back up that they used to be. Other considerations:

Not all schools set prelims (for some or all subjects)
They are not standardised (sometimes past papers or rotated papers which confers significant advantage if pupils have seen those papers)
They are sat at different times
Some sit based on full curriculum others not

There are bound to be other things that I’ve not considered. Given that the process if a pupil is sick is evidence based rather than prelim only then that is probably the route they would have to offer everyone - do teachers have the time plus evidence to do this for every student? Made worse by the scrapping of the unit assessments.

Trichinella · 16/03/2020 13:12

Prelim results would be pretty bad for DS. More than capable but a last minute person.
Maybe they will just open schools for exams, with everyone inmasks, hand sanitising on entry and sitting >2m apart.
Or delay?

DoubleAction · 16/03/2020 13:15

I know discussions are ongoing, lots of them, at high level but they're stumped. No one can come up with a workable solution.

Bombaybunty · 16/03/2020 13:22

My DS only did one paper for each subject for his mock A levels. Don't think it would be right to use those results.

Perhaps the predicted grades might work?

His school have said that if they have to close they would consider bringing them back for exams and putting 6 pupils in a class room to keep them at a suitable distance from each other.

Coconut80 · 16/03/2020 13:26

My daughter is having to do a second load of prelims this week which I think will count as her results for nat5. She is very stressed and unprepared. We are in highland and it is rumoured the school will shut Friday.

Trichinella · 16/03/2020 13:32

Some subjects haven’t finished teaching the course yet, and some are already on revision. Prelims aren’t standardised, so I’m not sure how they be used for entry to Uni. The whole thing is a nightmare

Groovee · 16/03/2020 15:59

Not a clue and the statement they released did not fill me with confidence.

Minesabecks · 16/03/2020 18:18

If the schools are closed to all other pupils, distancing those sitting exams would be possible by using lots of rooms - though lots of rooms means lots of invigilators.

Dinnafashyersel · 18/03/2020 14:50

Would it be possible to postpone till after summer holidays since Nat 5s could use prelims for Higher course selection and Highers could get results in time for normal Uni cut off. Would then just be those needing S6 results to meet conditions - possible to consider discretion with Unis etc?

Original poster
BeanieBabe · 18/03/2020 15:59

www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/93577.html

received this from our school. I guess we just wait and see

OP posts:
bemoreeverything · 18/03/2020 16:05

The SQA statement was put out before the latest from Nicola Sturgeon. They will be frantically trying to work it out now.

Lidlfix · 18/03/2020 17:00

In schools we were like Confused. Unsettles pupils when we don't have answers to every question like we normally do.

Alittlewornout · 18/03/2020 17:08

You are so right@Lidlfix mu dd stressing as extra tests over the next couple of days to aid evidence but half the class are missing. She is one of the few who would love prelims to be used.( hopefully they will have some weight if there are no exams). I appreciate we are in the fortunate position that dds uni place is secure but she was hoping for direct entry to 2and year with advanced higher grades. Have told her none of this matters just everyones health and wellbeing and looking out for the vulnerable in our local community.
Really feel for teachers this is such a stressful time.

Alittlewornout · 18/03/2020 17:28

Wonder if the SQA are watching BoJo just now?? Exams in England wont now take place.....

bemoreeverything · 18/03/2020 17:37

Our exams are closer. I hope they can find a workaround for us.

prettybird · 18/03/2020 18:14

The other difference in England is that there is a plethora of exam boards - so it will be difficult for the (WM) government to get them to agree a common approach, whereas here the government just needs to liaise with the SQA.

bemoreeverything · 18/03/2020 18:57

I'm still with fingers crossed Grin

WeAllHaveWings · 19/03/2020 14:49

Thats it offical, Scottish Exams cancelled for first time since 1888. Even wars havent stopped them before.

WeAllHaveWings · 19/03/2020 14:49

^Mr Swinney said a model would be put in place to ensure young people in schools and colleges who were unable to sit exams would not in any way disadvantaged.

It is likely pupils will be graded on coursework, prior attainment and teacher judgement.^

I0NA · 19/03/2020 15:19

😰 my child didn’t do his best in the prelims and was hoping for another chance

Minesabecks · 19/03/2020 15:29

If he has produced better work since then they might not predict the same grade as the prelim.

WeAllHaveWings · 19/03/2020 15:35

It is going to genuinely be so unfair to many, but no idea what an alternative solution would be.

Is he NAT5 or Highers I0NA?

If NAT5 will it stop him progressing to the subjects he wants in higher?

Lidlfix · 20/03/2020 10:03

I am at my desk while 3 Higher candidates scribble out essays ( that I don't even know if I can use) to ensure that their "robust evidence) is as good as it can be. The room is silent apart from their pens which hurt me.

Sad
LemonBreeland · 20/03/2020 10:10

My eldest was doing Highers. Most of the kids at his school did poorly in prelims as we had a major fire in November. They also don't have a lot of back up work, especially for practical subjects. As parents we were already worried about what SQA would put in place for our DC this year. Now with this it's a huge worry. DS 1 is pretty calm as he knows there is nothing her can do about it. We are really in a wait and see stage.

I noticed the SQA said they still hoped to have results out by 4th August, which will be very challenging for them given that they are not parking straightforward exam papers but going through evidence instead.

LemonBreeland · 20/03/2020 10:11

I0NA my DS1 did terribly in his prelims for Nat5 and then did amazingly in the exams. Same this year that his prelims were poor, but he was expected to do much better for Highers