Contingency measures and support in place.
It remains the government’s ‘firm intention’ to hold National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher exams this Spring, Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has restated.
Taking into consideration ongoing disruption within schools, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has decided to invoke its Scenario 2 contingency and will provide revision support in early March to aid learners in preparing for their exams.
It complements the significant modifications SQA has already made to reduce the volume of assessment and ease the workload of learners, teachers and lecturers.
SQA has also, today, announced a series of measures that will support delivery of the qualifications this year and that acknowledge the disruption caused by the pandemic:
- exceptional circumstances back-up for learners who are unable to attend their exam or exams due to illness or bereavement
- grading exams this year will look to factor in the impact of the pandemic on learners
- once the results have been published, learners will have free direct access to appeal
Ms Somerville also confirmed that £4 million will be used to support schools and colleges provide targeted exam preparation sessions for learners who need it most over the Easter break.