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Official Report: search what was said in Parliament

The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.  

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Dates of parliamentary sessions
  1. Session 1: 12 May 1999 to 31 March 2003
  2. Session 2: 7 May 2003 to 2 April 2007
  3. Session 3: 9 May 2007 to 22 March 2011
  4. Session 4: 11 May 2011 to 23 March 2016
  5. Session 5: 12 May 2016 to 5 May 2021
  6. Current session: 12 May 2021 to 19 January 2025
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Displaying 361 contributions

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Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

Is that a suggestion that both of you will take away to consider following today’s committee meeting?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

Can that be shared with the committee?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

But you have asked for it, so—

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

Well, no. I am keen to get to members’ questions. Why did you not launch the review when you saw the figures?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

Is the feedback coming to you? I was told that the survey will close by 6 December and that the feedback will come to you.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

Thank you.

Ms Robertson, after all that pupils and staff have been through, are you content, ultimately, to lay the blame on students’ falling standards? Is that where you think the blame lies? Is no blame at all allocated to you or the SQA?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

It does.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

Excellent, as we have a lot to get through.

Cabinet secretary, I will start with you. Given everything that you know about this year’s higher history exam and the concerns from students, teachers and markers, and having looked at the review, do you have full confidence in Fiona Robertson and the way that she and the SQA have handled the matter?

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

We will get to Ms Robertson in a moment. You accept that the situation has been on-going for months, and that the feedback from students, teachers and markers, and from some whistleblowers in the SQA, is that there is dismay with the SQA’s report. However, you are content that the report is the end of the matter and that you have full confidence in the way that it has been handled by Ms Robertson and the SQA.

Education, Children and Young People Committee

Scottish Qualifications Authority: “Higher History Review 2024”

Meeting date: 4 December 2024

Douglas Ross

Cabinet secretary, I will ask the question and you will answer it.

I am saying very clearly that concerns have been raised with me as an MSP and with others by students, teachers, markers and people within the SQA who are unhappy with the matter. I am giving their view, not my personal opinion. Given all of that, are you still content that the review is the end of the matter and that Fiona Robertson has your full and 100 per cent confidence?