EXPERIENCED teachers who marked Higher art and design courses remain bewildered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s assessment system after many of their own students received far lower grades than anticipated.
Bob Murray, principal teacher of art and design at Gleniffer High in Paisley, says he has talked to dozens of teachers across several authorities, many of them markers, who are mystified. “I have 30 years at this game and I know what candidates’ worth is. One colleague said he had the worst results in all his years teaching,” Mr Murray said.
A former marker himself, Mr Murray contacted The TES Scotland after reading last week about the plight of Dougie Hamilton, PT art and design at Perth High. Mr Hamilton had received no explanation from the SQA for a set of apparently rogue results in which 30 of his 40 students initially failed.
Mr Murray is equally disappointed and appealed 13 results, but only won three. Some students estimated for As received Cs. “Top bracket candidates were receiving bottom Bs and Cs,” he said.
“These are not rogue results. This is widespread but it is just not being acknowledged. I know of many PTs who are markers themselves and indeed some of them were on the appeal teams. But even they are experiencing major problems with candidates’ assessments.
“I cannot come to grips with that. Many of the staff I have spoken to are questioning the credibility of the SQA as regards assessment.”
Mr Murray has been pressed for an explanation by parents deeply unhappy with the results. He, too, claims to have had no satisfactory answers from the SQA apart from a broad statement that candidates’ performance was poor, something he strongly disputes. He photographed students’ work and other PTs agreed with his judgment.
Mr Murray blames “the powers that be” for the crisis in art and design, which was originally a priority subject for review but has slipped on to the backburner. Further significant changes were introduced mid-term last year.
“All through the consultation they would not listen,” he complains. Colleagues were now losing confidence in their own abilities and had no clear idea of how to assess this year’s students. “We have staff who are not sure what is required and why their levels of expectation are not meeting the SQA requirement. Somebody has to look at this,” Mr Murray said.
Mr Hamilton is still waiting for a full explanation, although the SQA has been in touch. Other schools had contacted him to confirm a similar experience.
An SQA spokesman said: “We are aware of the concerns. While we believe that the standards have been maintained this year, it is also clear that there is work to be done by us in spreading understanding of what the curriculum is looking for and we will be redoubling our efforts in this area.”
