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Original poster

SQA. What on earth?

45 replies

Cismyfatarse1 · 06/10/2020 20:32

Sorry. This has been mentioned on other threads but what the hell are they playing at? There was a consultation for students, staff and parents that ended on 24th August. There were some ideas about how courses might change.

Then there was a leak 3 weeks ago suggesting N5 will be cancelled.

Then we were told Swinney would make it all clear today.

Then that was changed until tomorrow but the time he was scheduled to speak is the same time NS is now speaking.

I have been teaching these courses since mid May and run a department for a core subject in a large school.

How on earth are they getting away with this? How is there not a huge outcry from parents and pupils that we are now 3 or more months through the school year and we still have no clear guidance on what we are teaching.

Pupils are very, very anxious. They are being over tested as everyone is worrying about evidence. They may be doing work on aspects of the courses they will not need (we spent weeks on folio and talk which we were then told might change.

This Is not acceptable and yet there is not outcry. The whole circuit breaker thing which is not a thing but might happen but no. OK yes. Well, we will let you know......

Is that just to distract from the SQA thing? Or from Margaret Covid?

Can anyone tell me what is going on? And John Swinney's brother is in charge of English for SQA. So surely they could sort this out.

OP posts:

Arkadia · 06/10/2020 20:40

My understaing is that he is going to speak AFTER NS.

Cismyfatarsey · 06/10/2020 20:44

After. So at the end of another school day?

sonicbook · 06/10/2020 21:14

I hear you. Very annoyed by all this. Also a bit worried.

BrazenlyDefying · 06/10/2020 23:51

Yes, I have a child heading towards Nat 5s next year and the first thing she said this afternoon when she walked in was "have they decided about our exams yet?"

All this we'll tell you soon, not quite yet, important announcement coming, get ready, prepare to hear, now are you sure you're ready, here's what we're NOT doing, more consultation, busy busy busy, almost time now....

Pathetic.

Goingdooolally · 07/10/2020 08:51

I’m with you. Higher pupils in tears this week. The level of stress these pupils are under.

Allourboys · 07/10/2020 09:09

I know I’m beyond frustrated! Losing the will now.

cozycat1 · 07/10/2020 09:34

couldn't agree more. for My son doing a few Highers. Had a few tests already - he came home after one feeling sick, and described how he felt just before another - basically he had a panic attack. My friends daughter doing Nat 5. Similar reactions to test and already she has already been referred for Neuro Linguistic programming type course on how to deal with exams.

Its just one big bubbling pot of stress and frustration all round for both teachers and pupils. How John Swinney can get away with this is beyond me.

sweetkitty · 07/10/2020 09:39

Totally agree DD1 doing Highers and a N5 this year, DD2 doing N5s, every night they come in telling me they are revising for another test. All they seem to be doing is getting tested. They are stressed and have been in tears, what happened to Heath and well-being first?

After the debacle of the exam results vent believe they are again treating our young people like this.

sweetkitty · 07/10/2020 09:39

Can’t believe

cdtaylornats · 07/10/2020 09:53

he came home after one feeling sick

There are two types of kids who feel sick after an exam - kids who expect a high mark and have performance anxiety. Kids who dread testing.

Goingdooolally · 07/10/2020 12:37

To be fair we normally test this time of year anyway so it’s not an extra test. However the thought that it might be used in evidence is what’s stressing them out. Despite my best efforts to reassure! Lots of family issues bubbling away too, extra stresses at home on top.

celtiethree · 07/10/2020 16:37

As expected Nat 5 will be internally assessed. But measures in place to ensure consistency. Evidence will be 2-4 pieces of work per subject, emphasis on quality rather than quantity.

Guidance on the evidence still not rolled out.

H/AH exam diet pushed back until May 13th. Regular checkpoints will be put in place so that contingency measures can be brought in if necessary.

52andblue · 07/10/2020 17:24

Any idea if they will use work already done for Nat 5's or will give guidance and use work from Oct break onwards, please?

Lidlfix · 07/10/2020 17:59

2 - 4 pieces of evidence (quality not quantity) . There will be standard moderation and league tables will not be taken into account.

We await guidance on what that actually means

Cismyfatarsey · 07/10/2020 19:35

I will be waiting for advice but evidence will be summative (a final assessment) and not formative (gathered to help improve learning or check skills) so most schools are going to want to gather it later to give pupils the best possible chance. March / April at a guess. Depends on deadlines for submission.

Original poster

Cismyfatarse1 · 01/11/2020 09:11

So, the end of the month passes and still no subject by subject update. They really are a shower of bastards.

OP posts:

LoopyGremlin · 01/11/2020 09:19

Totally agree @Cismyfatarse

Bejazzled · 01/11/2020 11:05

SQA are doing everything possible just now. I mean everything.
Waiting for the next dictat from Swinney (which will then change in the flash of an eye as soon as there is any public backlash or social media campaigning)
He only cares about votes next year.

cozycat1 · 01/11/2020 11:10

As a parent, I find this whole situation absolutely shocking. I was on the SQA site at on Friday trying to find information about assessment process and no updates yet. My son didn't too well in his Nat 5 last year and is resitting I want to help him as much as I can. I cannot imagine the frustration of teachers at the moment.

Original poster

Cismyfatarse1 · 01/11/2020 13:55

What do you mean @Bejazzled. Surely issuing subject by subject guidance in a timely manner is something that should be done by now. We had prelims scheduled for 3 weeks but have no information for N5 about the evidence required. 2-4 pieces of work. Is that all elements of the English course (so RUAE, Scottish Text, Critical Essay plus 1 folio) or can we do just some of them?Can we add more folio and remove another element? Does Critical Reading (Scottish Text and Critical Essay) count as one element, or two.

Are they supplying assessments? I have spent money on P&N but which text is on there for each Scottish writer will be 'out' soon. Is this robust enough?

How do we ensure parity? A school could just teach the set poem and one other.

How many will we need to provide to SQA as evidence ? 10%? Can we choose who to send? What about if they choose someone who has had several periods of time off school? Must we have concrete evidence or is it professional judgement based on the evidence we have.

This has been going on for months now. Swinney should resign over this. It is far worse than the week of agony in August. This is weighing heavily on staff, students and parents.

It is a fucking disgrace and should be seen as a national scandal. But, hey, he is Teflon, non-stick Swinney. Whose brother, incidentally, is in charge of National 5 English for SQA. You couldn't make it up.

OP posts:

Bejazzled · 01/11/2020 14:49

I totally agree. he has also installed his ‘placewoman’ as new SQA CE.
I’m not able to say too much. I’ve seen SQA workers in tears as weeks of work over the spring and summer carried out at his behest was made trashed and useless as he flip flops constantly.

dancemom · 01/11/2020 15:35

Is anyone else's school still going ahead with Prelims for Nat 5 even though actual exams are cancelled?

Original poster

Cismyfatarse1 · 01/11/2020 16:09

Not mine. There is no point if they are going to need evidence as why collect it so early, or twice. We also want to provide a meaningful diet of exams that prepare N5 pupils for future exam diets.

It is 7 weeks until the end of term. I am so sad @Bejazzled that ordinary staff are having their work trashed. I mark for SQA at a reasonably high level and always find the staff brilliant and very dedicated. They must also be feeling isolated at home and many will have their own children being let down by the system.

At the moment, I am so bloody angry I can't speak.

And masks in schools? A sticking plaster to convince us they care. They are not even providing the masks for teachers. More stuff we have to buy in order to be able to do our jobs.

OP posts:

Lidlfix · 01/11/2020 16:24

Our parent council are pushing for prelims.

Cismyfatarsey · 01/11/2020 19:42

Yes. Having prelims makes sense but as prelims, not as the final measure of success. We are thinking of keeping it in class this term and then running 2 sets of exams - date to be determined. But, who knows what is best. Pupils are hugely anxious.

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