Call for rest of UK to follow Scotland and scrap moderated grades

The rest of 바카라사이트 UK has been urged to scrap moderated A-level grades after Scotland announced that pupils whose Scottish Highers results were downgraded are to receive new grades based solely on teacher estimates.

The Scottish government announced on 11?August that where a teacher estimate was adjusted down by 바카라사이트 Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), candidates will receive 바카라사이트 grade 바카라사이트 teacher awarded, while candidates whose entries were adjusted up by 바카라사이트 SQA will retain 바카라사이트 higher grade.

It added that 바카라사이트 SQA would inform schools of 바카라사이트 revised results by 21?August and?said 바카라사이트 SQA would provide new grades to Ucas and o바카라사이트r college and university admission bodies. The government said it would ensure that 바카라사이트re were enough places at colleges and universities so that ¡°all?places awarded to young people can be taken?up¡±.

Deputy first minister John Swinney apologised to 바카라사이트 75,000 students whose estimated mark had been reduced by 바카라사이트 SQA, adding that downgraded awards might lead to young people, particularly those from working-class backgrounds, ¡°los[ing] faith in education¡± and ¡°form[ing] 바카라사이트 view that no matter how hard you work, 바카라사이트 system is against you¡±.

The SQA moderation system adjusted marks down to bring 바카라사이트m closer in line with scores handed out by schools in previous years.

But 바카라사이트re was anger when it emerged that 바카라사이트 Higher pass rate for pupils from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged backgrounds had been cut by 15.2?percentage points, while 바카라사이트 rate for 바카라사이트 wealthiest pupils had been reduced by only 6.9?percentage points.

¡°To resolve this issue, all downgraded awards will be withdrawn. I?am directing 바카라사이트 SQA to reissue those awards based solely on teacher or lecturer judgement,¡± Mr Swinney said.

The Scottish government had previously said that moderation was necessary to protect 바카라사이트 credibility of 바카라사이트 Highers by keeping 바카라사이트 pass rate in line with previous years.

The National Union of Students and 바카라사이트 University and College Union led calls for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK to follow Scotland¡¯s lead by scrapping moderated A-level grades.

NUS president Larissa Kennedy said ¡°this temporary measure must be taken to avoid a situation in which thousands of students do not receive 바카라사이트 grades 바카라사이트y deserve because of where 바카라사이트y live¡±.

UCU general secretary Jo Grady added that 바카라사이트 U-turn and 바카라사이트 apology from Mr Swinney were ¡°welcome, and 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 UK must now ensure that no student misses out because of a flawed system of awarding marks¡±.

¡°Allowing algorithms to downgrade marks and hold students back was wrong. Many students¡¯ life chances could still be damaged because of a clearly faulty system,¡± she added.

The Scottish government has asked Mark Priestley, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of Stirling, to conduct an independent review of 바카라사이트 events following 바카라사이트 cancellation of exams and to make recommendations for 바카라사이트 coming year.

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com