Hundreds of pupils and parents at a Lanarkshire secondary school have signed a petition protesting against changes to their prelims routine that they say will leave them "ill-prepared" for exams next year.
Furious students at Cathkin High in Cambuslang also say they have been completely shut out of any discussion about the changes.
The protests have prompted the area's MSP Clare Haughey to now write to South Lanarkshire Council's (SLC) educational department to detail concerns over how the situation has been handled.
The changes will see pupils sit shortened prelims in their normal class time, without any study leave, and across multiple times.
The concerned kids say they fear that isn't an adequate version of an actual exam, and they will be ill-prepared for the real assessments next year.
In the petition they state: "Many pupils, teachers and parents oppose this idea and believe it doesn't allow children to flourish to their full potential and these one hour and 30 mins prelims are practically useless in preparation for real SQA exams.
"Teachers will also receive the burden of having to create multiple prelims and find cross marking harder to achieve."
The petition, which has currently been signed by 508 people, goes on to state the pupils feel they were left in the dark over the changes.
Among the comments from those signing the petition are parents saying the changes are causing additional stress for their children and that it will not provide suitable exam preparation.
In a letter sent to parents and seen by Lanarkshire Live, Cathkin head teacher Joanne Sturgeon says that "the main purpose of these assessments is to identify next steps to improve learning, but these will also begin to form evidence for estimated grades.
"To ensure evidence contributes reliably to final estimates, the assessments must be proportionate to the learning covered so far."
Ms Sturgeon adds that a fuller mock exam could be held next year, and that study leave cannot go ahead due to four weeks of learning being "lost" earlier this year due to coronavirus restrictions.
The pupil behind the petition met with Clare Haughey earlier this week to outline their concerns.
Ms Haughey told Lanarkshire Live : "It was a pleasure to meet with one of the petitioners to hear their concerns about Cathkin’s prelim arrangements and other matters.
"A further issue that was raised with me was how a number of pupils feel that their concerns are being overlooked as they believe they aren’t being properly consulted or listened to.
"I was told there were real fears if there were other big changes in the future, then how will the pupils be involved in any discussions.
"I’ve written to education resources to share how the issue regarding prelims has impacted the pupils, and I’ve called for proper inclusion of pupil voices in the decision-making process, for example, through strengthening their pupil council which could ensure concerns are being better addressed."
The Labour list MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy has also raised concerns over the changes.
She stated: "The strength of feeling on this issue from pupils is clear.
"The pandemic has already caused severe upheaval to the educational experience of these young people, and as we move forward, we must listen to what they are telling us they need to get all that they can from their final school years.
"I would encourage the senior management team at Cathkin High School to sit down with pupils, properly listen to their concerns about these proposals and make the necessary changes to ensure that those sitting prelims are properly supported and prepared for their upcoming exams."
Anne Donaldson, head of education at SLC, stated: "Schools have the flexibility to alter their assessment arrangements in line with current, relevant guidance and local circumstances."
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