Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Highland Council Welcomes Today's Announcement From The Cabinet Secretary For Education And Skills

2nd June 2021

The Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Shirley-Anne Somerville, announced today to the Scottish Parliament the details of the appeals system that will support this year's Alternative Model for Certification for young people studying for Scottish Qualification courses at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher level.

Young people will be empowered to indicate their intention to appeal from 25 June, based on certain criteria. Appeals will be possible where candidates believe that the provisional grade is an incorrect academic judgement, if there is an administrative error in the grade submitted or if they believe they are eligible for an appeal on the grounds of discrimination.

Cllr John Finlayson, Chair of Highland Council's Education Committee commented: "We welcome the announcement today from the Cabinet Secretary, which gives us details about an important part of this year's certification process. Our teaching staff, senior managers in schools and Highland Council officers have been working hard to make sure that this year's assessment of skills, knowledge and understanding is in line with the guidance issued by SQA, so that the grades submitted to SQA correctly reflect young people's learning. Today's announcement helps us to be sure that there is a fair appeals process for young people, and SQA will be writing to all candidates with more information about that process."

Nicky Grant, Interim Executive Chief Officer for Education and Learning said: "This has been a demanding term for young people and teachers alike, as they have put in a huge effort to deliver this year's qualifications. This has included extensive quality assurance activity, and we have had external support from Education Scotland and SQA to make sure our approaches are in line with national standards, while allowing a degree of local flexibility so that individual schools can plan in a way that meets the needs of their learners. It has been a difficult year for our Senior Phase pupils, and we would like to thank them, their families and their teachers for all of their hard work. The appeals process announced today puts in place an additional safeguard to make sure that young people receive the grades they deserve. From 17 June, schools will be sharing the provisional grades with young people, and certificates will be arriving from SQA on 10 August. Teachers will be talking to young people about their provisional grades between now and the end of term. They will explain how the assessment evidence was used to arrive at learners' provisional grades and how quality assurance checks have been used to ensure the grades are fair. If, after these conversations, young people believe that they are eligible for an appeal, schools will support them to ensure that they can submit their intention to appeal correctly."

Full details of the SQA's appeals process can be found on their website (external link). SQA have indicated that the result of an appeal could be a young person’s grade going up, remaining the same, or being moved downward, depending on the evidence of attainment.

Ms Grant added: "We know that there has been concern expressed about the security of the assessment papers in use across Scotland, with some being shared on social media. In all of our schools, teachers have stressed the importance of the confidentiality of assessment papers, and have made sure that these papers have been kept securely within the school. SQA asked schools to take action where there was evidence of malpractice. In all cases, teachers must be satisfied that each candidate's performance accurately reflects their skills, knowledge and understanding before arriving at a provisional grade."

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday
Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen FlightsThumbnail for article : Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen Flights
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen.   The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.  
18/3/2024
Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying SoThumbnail for article : Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying So
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation.   The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.  
14/3/2024
Clarification On The Role Of MCR Pathways' Coordinators And Mentors In Highland Schools
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme.   Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.  
15/3/2024
Council Agrees A New Draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan.   The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.  
15/3/2024
Members agree Highland Council's new Community Wealth Building Strategy
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy.   They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.  
15/3/2024
£60m Capital Investment Approved For Roads And Infrastructure In Highland
Plans to invest up to £60m new Capital in Highland roads and infrastructure have been approved by Members at the Council meeting on 14 March 2024.   The decision will see an additional £40m Capital investment in roads and transport infrastructure.  
10/3/2024
Highland Council Budget - Delivery Plan Sets Out Roadmap To Deliver Savings And Investment
A draft Delivery Plan sets out a roadmap which will ensure the delivery of £54.6m savings and over £100m investment agreed by Council over the next 3 years.   The report is a difficult to follow series looing at areas but does not specify where the cuts to jobs will come over the next three years.  
Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For TapestriesThumbnail for article : Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For Tapestries
The Co-Chairs of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Fergus Ewing MSP and Cllr Ian Brown, are delighted to announce the award of £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in support of framing the 57 panels that will form the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.   This financial commitment from HIE has contributed significantly to the preservation of the 57 panels created by communities across the Highlands and Islands, of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.  
6/3/2024
Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes AwardsThumbnail for article : Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes Awards
Dawn Meston from The Highland Council's Housing team won a prestigious award at the Scottish Empty Homes Awards held at The Studio, Glasgow on Thursday 29 February 2024 in recognition of her contribution to bringing empty homes back into use across Highland.   Between 1 April and 31 December 2023, a total of 25 empty properties were brought back into use following Dawn's intervention as Highland's Empty Homes Officer.  
5/3/2024
Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In ThursoThumbnail for article : Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In Thurso
The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has confirmed details of a trial, to start next week, of a thermal process for carrying out pothole repairs.   An external contractor, Thermal Road Repairs, has been appointed to undertake the work using a thermal repair process.