SCOTLAND - Botched results not given computer check

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Botched results not given computer check

Scots authority failed to gather schools' exam predictions

Education Unlimited

Gerard Seenan Friday September 1, 2000

The saga of Scotland's discredited examination authority descended into farce yesterday when it emerged that customary computer checks on exam results had not been carried out. An undisclosed number of pupils have been told they have failed new-style higher grade exams when they should have passed, while others have received lower grades than they should have.

Although the Scottish Qualifications Authority has consistently claimed there was no lowering of quality control in this year's procedures, it yesterday belatedly conceded that computer checks had not been done on the results in the new highers, as they would have been done in past years.

The Headteachers' Association Scotland has said that the discrepancies in grades predicted by schools and what pupils obtained was two to three times what would otherwise be expected. In some schools it was up to 10 times greater.

The Scottish executive said yesterday that a lack of computer checks might account for some of these anomalies.

Nicola Sturgeon, education spokeswoman for the Scottish National party, commented that the authority had now lost all credibility.

"We are not talking about a few thousand results being wrong. We are now talking about potentially every new higher result having doubt cast upon it," she said.

In past years, the authority used a computer programme to check quality control - the "derived grades procedure", which took into account a school's prediction as to its student's exam grade to raise a mark if he or she came close to a cut-off point between grades; it could therefore result in a pupil jumping up a grade, and sometimes applying the procedure could mean the difference between someone having a pass or a fail.

The authority yesterday admitted that the programme had not been used this year because school predictions were not available.

It promised, however, that any anomalies would be sorted out by its appeals procedure, and said that the programme would be reinstated for next year's exams.

A deadline for submitting appeals has been set for this weekend.

However, the corrected results following an appeal are not expected to be announced for a number of weeks - thus leaving students who have been mistakenly told they have failed to meet the standard required for their chosen university to possibly find out that they have in fact done sufficiently well to merit entry, just as they are about to start an alternative, fall-back course.

David Caldwell, director of Coshep, the Scottish university principals' organisation, said yesterday that the universities would endeavour to make sure that all students whose successful appeals meant that their results met the requirements of their offer through Ucas, the universities' clearing house, would get on to their chosen university course.

"The timing is awkward, as the results of the appeals will be coming through at the same time as the academic year begins, but we will do our best to make sure no one is disadvantaged."

Brian Monteith, the Conservative education spokesman, said that the authority could no longer be taken at its word, as it had previously repeatedly asserted that its quality control was the same as in previous years.

The continuing crisis is putting increasing pressure on the Scottish education minister, Sam Galbraith, for him to resign. He does not accept he has the ultimate responsibility for the authority's failings, but he may not be able to ride out the storm much longer.

When the Scottish parliament reconvenes next week, he will be called before its education committee, where he will face fierce questioning as both the Conservatives and the SNP attempt to secure his ministerial scalp.

If Mr Galbraith does not perform sufficiently well in front of the committee, he may be forced to go then.

From bad to worse

March Ministers learn there are problems, but are assured they will be sorted out by the qualifications authority.

August 10 Results sent out. Thousands of pupils receive incomplete or inaccurate certificates; thousands more receive none at all; and many certificates make no sense.

August 11 Principals of Scottish universities say they have no confidence in the authority.

August 12 Authority chief executive Ron Tuck resigns.

August 17 A level results published outside Scotland, while 5,000 Scottish students continue to await accurate results.

August 21 Scottish executive confirms 700 students will be late in entering clearing.

August 23 Ucas says number of Scottish pupils taking up university places has fallen 6.6%.

August 29 Authority admits 4,000 standard grade pupils given incorrect results.

August 30 Authority admits faxing wrong standard grade results to schools. Two senior figures resign.

August 31 Authority admits quality control measures are lower than in previous years.

http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Distribution/Redirect_Artifact/0,4678,0-362524,00.html

-- Doris (reaper1@mindspring.com), August 31, 2000


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