Coursework and exams for practical subjects that were removed from the assessment of Scottish school qualifications during the Covid-19 pandemic are to return in 2023-24, Scotland’s exam body has announced today.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) made modifications to National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher course assessments - such as removing elements of coursework - at the height of the pandemic and extended them for 2021-22 and the current school year to help limit the impact of disruption on learning and teaching.
However, the SQA - which is due to be replaced following the 2024 exam diet - announced today that “most” national qualifications’ assessment requirements are to return for the coming year.
The SQA said that this will benefit students by: giving them the chance to fully demonstrate their learning through both coursework and exams; ensuring they have a fuller understanding of the whole course; and enabling them to apply their skills in practice and consolidate their learning to support progression to college, university, employment or training.
It added that for Higher National and Vocational Qualifications, a similar approach would be taken, retaining aspects of alternative assessment arrangements that benefit students and schools, while returning to a fuller assessment approach.
However, Seamus Searson, general secretary of the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association (SSTA), was “absolutely astounded” by the SQA’s announcement.
“SQA needs to have reality check as it is totally misread the situation in schools - the SSTA is looking to boycott the returning burden on teachers and pupils,” he said. “The SSTA has at every turn advocated that the interim measures should remain in place in 2024 and beyond.”
Mr Searson added: “The pandemic has had long-term damage on pupils who are moving through the secondary school, and they are not ready to return to the previous regime. All secondary teachers have been saying this and a return to the ‘normal’ arrangements is more about SQA taking back control and cementing a place for itself in the developing education landscape.”
He also said that the SQA announcement “flies in the face of common sense when the Hayward review [for which consultation ends on 7 April] is going to change the assessment and qualifications system”.
Mr Searson added: ”The SSTA has already had calls from members to boycott the return of these measures and I cannot see the call being rejected.”
SQA chief executive Fiona Robertson said: “As part of the emergency response to the pandemic, we made modifications to assessment to reflect public health advice at the time, reduce workload for learners, teachers and lecturers, and to free up time to complete their courses. Our work on the evaluation of awarding in 2022 shows that these temporary arrangements were well received by the education community.
“However, our engagement with teachers, lecturers, training providers, universities, colleges and subject experts also suggests that, if retained for longer than necessary, the modifications to assessment could have a detrimental impact on consolidation of learning, and learners’ progression to their next stage of education, employment or training.”
Ms Robertson added: “Coursework provides learners with the opportunity to personalise their learning, extend their own knowledge and apply their skills in practice, and we know it is something that many learners enjoy and do well in. It also provides a more balanced assessment approach.
“Having carefully considered next steps with Scotland’s education and training community, fuller assessment requirements will return for the next session.”
Elements of the modifications will be kept in a small number of courses, where it has been identified that they provided a better way for learners to demonstrate their level of knowledge, skills and understanding.
SQA has written to schools and colleges today with details of the arrangements for 2023-24. Further information will be sent to learners following this year’s exams as they prepare for the next academic year.
A table explaining what type of assessment students can expect in their national qualification courses is available on the SQA website. An equality impact assessment and a children’s rights and wellbeing impact assessment are also on the SQA website.
