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Before we hear from the first of our panels, I would like to thank all the young people who took the time to speak with us informally last week about their experiences of the alternative certification model. We really appreciate their taking the time to let us know their thoughts on what it was like for them, and how they think assessment could best be managed in future. They really were a credit to themselves. I hope that they found it as helpful as we did. It certainly provided us with a great deal of insight into the issues from their perspective. An anonymised summary of their views is provided in the committee’s public papers this week.

Our first panel of witnesses on the alternative certification model in 2021 are from the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland. We have with us Tony McDaid, executive director of education resources with South Lanarkshire Council, and Audrey May, head of service, children and families, with Dundee City Council. I welcome you both to the meeting. Does either of you have any initial comments that you would like to make before we get into the questions?

Audrey, do you feel the same way?

Collectively as a committee, we are determined that we want to hear from young people and that we want their voices to be heard in an unfiltered way. Last week, we had a really good experience with the young people whom we spoke to.

We will go straight into the questions. As usual, I will take the convener’s prerogative and ask questions about your experience over the last period. How well supported by the Scottish Government and the Scottish Qualifications Authority did you feel during the past 18 months?

I was interested in the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association’s survey, and I want to ask a question that is related to what Fergus Ewing was asking about. We were talking about demonstrated attainment. According to the survey, 36 per cent of teachers believed that the evidence that they had collected truly demonstrated their pupil’s attainment, but that means that 64 per cent did not. What is your reaction to that data? Should we be questioning it?

No, that was excellent.

Michael Marra has an interesting declaration of interests.

Audrey May talked about some people going back to school and hitting the ground running, as if nothing had interrupted their stride. However, did the gap not widen for those who did not have the same connections? I am asking that because I find it quite hard to believe that it did not. If a person was not able to take advantage because of a home environment or a material basis, did they not fall further behind? I apologise; I am using a pejorative term. Did the gap not widen?

Do you have a question?

In that case, I will pass back to Fergus Ewing.

Audrey, do you want to comment?