Pupils studying for National 5 qualifications at Monklands schools will not be sitting exams next summer, with their qualifications instead being assessed through coursework and teacher assessments.
Higher and Advanced Higher exams will still be going ahead but will begin later than usual, on May 13, to help students recover some additional study time; while all results will be published as scheduled on August 10.
Education secretary John Swinney made the announcement at Holyrood today, saying the continuing impact of the coronavirus pandemic means that: “A full exam diet is too big a risk to take – it would not be fair.”
The deputy first minister said: “Due to the level of disruption already caused by Covid, there will be an alternative to National 5s in 2021 with qualifications awarded on basis of centres estimation, based on validated assessments and a transparent national system.
“We must seek to maintain standards, and the Scottish Qualifications Authority will work with schools on assurance of the quality of pupils’ work – an A in Aberdeen has to be the same as an A in Annan or anywhere else.”
Pupils are likely to be asked to produce between two and four pieces of coursework for each National 5 subject, with detailed guidance to be published after next week’s school holiday break.
This year’s exams were cancelled early in the pandemic after schools were forced to close their doors to pupils in March, with students originally being awarded moderated grades which saw individual teacher assessments adjusted based on school’s historic performances.
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It led to a public outcry after thousands of results were downgraded – including 4951 individual grades in North Lanarkshire, affecting 2900 young people or 46 per cent of candidates – leading to the system being scrapped and the original grades restored in a Scottish Government U-turn.
Mr Swinney said today of the 2021 National 5s: “I want to be clear what will not happen – results will not be given or taken away on the basis of statistical modelling or past performance; there will be no algorithm.”
He said of the decision of Highers and Advanced Highers taking place: “The exams which determine the results that most people leave school with, their future path to work, college or university, can go ahead.
“National 5s constitute more than half of all exams taken, and not having these reduces the risk of the exams as a whole.
“I’m acutely aware that there’s no way of knowing what circumstances we will face at that point; to avoid decisions being made in extremis, a contingency will continue to be developed for those exams.
“There will be key checkpoints up to the February break; and if necessary, awards based on teacher professional judgment supported by SQA assurance, taking account of class evidence including prelims wehre appropriate.
“Coronavirus has not gone away – if anything it’s making a comeback – and the taks is to build a system of awards that can be delivered.”
