Scottish grades to be based only on the teacher assessments.

[HPFA]

Just announced by Jon Swinney, SNP Education Minister.

This will be the effect on grades

twitter.com/spreadsheetian/status/1290573455759495169

Will hugely increase the pressure on the government on Thursday when A Level results announced.

SerenityNowwwww how did you end up doing Highers at 15 in 5th year, most people would have turned 16 by the end of February before sitting the exams in May. With the older kids having turned 17.

I started school early. I was a precocious brat. Not that it did me any good whatsoever.

I understand why it seems fairer for this years students but I think Scot Gov, Heads and teachers should be worried - as next year when the grades in some schools drop by 20% again - it will be obvious which schools/ teachers have inflated their students grades.
Those schools that didn't and genuinely had great grades will also stick out.
What will the Gov / Head teachers say next year to explain the inevitable drop in grades - ah yes, but of course, that is because we overestimated last year .
Cohorts do change of course but never by 20%

The schools will ask for extra funds I assume. They will all be ‘outstanding’ too. It’s just silly and there’s no ‘fair’ way - every year there is the argument that some students don’t so well in exams and hayfever knocks some students for six too.

My ds's friend did his Nat 5s in 3rd year and highers in 4th year because he is very bright. Even at the younger age he performed better than others doing the exams with him. Children would only be doing highers at 15 if they fall into this type of category - the school would have to be very confident they would do very well so I would expect results of this age group to be high.

sashagabadon

Regulating it is what the SQA tried to do but they messed it up by knocking kids down with no real science behind which kids to knock down .

Then they had no time to sort the screw ups and do thousands of appeals.
It also can't be easy for teachers to estimate the kids who are borderline ie A/B or a B/C or C/D fail.

I think people will write off 2020 grades as the COVID year.
Don’t think it matters long term.
But it affects which University and/or course you are accepted onto which has the potential to be prospects/life altering.

That’s why I’m happy for them to just go with the Teacher assessments.

Whether or not you agree with taking teacher assessments at face value, is it unreasonable to expect the English teachers assessments to be reinstated?
Surely, by not following suit, the British government is saying that English teachers aren't as honest/professional as their Scottish counterparts, which of course is nonsense.

This year's results are awarded by quota and not ability.

DD has been downgraded but, fortunately, it didn't affect her Uni place. Many of her friends weren't so lucky and some were downgraded by 3, in no way reflecting the levels at which they were working throughout the sixth form. Hopefully, they will be allowed to appeal but I'm not sure I have any faith in the appeals process (whatever that turns out to be) to come to a fair decision.

I just hope that this mess is not allowed to become buried in the rather convinient lifting of certain English Covid guidelines on Thursday evening.