- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the predicted exam grades of pupils with (a) additional support needs and (b) a vision impairment in (i) each local authority and (ii) Scotland were downgraded in the current academic year.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out regarding the impact of the moderation methodology for the 2020 awards on pupils from poorer areas.
Answer
The Scottish Qualifications Authority is responsible for undertaking an Equality Impact Assessment and Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment for its approach to awarding in 2020 and both reports were published in full as planned, on 4 August.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what the remuneration is for SQA board members.
Answer
The annual remuneration of the SQA Chair and individual Board members are detailed within the latest SQA Annual Report and Accounts, available here https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files_ccc/Annual_Report_and_Accounts2018-19.pdf .
Policy details on the remuneration and annual uplifts for all public bodies Chairs and Board Members are provided on the Scottish Government’s Public Bodies web page https://www.gov.scot/publications/2020-21-public-sector-pay-policy-technical-guide/pages/7/
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take regarding any differing teacher ability in assessing pupil attainment that has been identified by the 2020 awards.
Answer
We are committed to quickly learning from this year’s awards process. Professor Mark Priestley is leading an independent review of the approach to awarding in 2020. Areas being considered by Professor Priestley include teachers’ estimates and he will make recommendations to the Scottish Government.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government whether the SQA alerted it regarding the potential impact of the moderation methodology used for the 2020 awards on pupils from disadvantaged areas and, if so, on what date.
Answer
Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) provided a broad indication of the equalities impact of its awarding model on 30 July. The SQA results as announced on 4 August showed progress in closing the attainment gap.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government how the attainment of pupils with a vision impairment in the 2019-20 school year compared with the previous year at (a) Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 4 or better, (b) SCQF level 5 or better, (c) SCQF level 6 or better and (d) SCQF level 7.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and the SQA regarding the moderation methodology used for the 2020 awards.
Answer
I met with the Chief Examining Officer, Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Board, and other members of staff at SQA on a number of occasions and discussed a range of topics, which included the moderation methodology used for the 2020 awards.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason no assessment of evidence of individual attainment was reportedly made by the SQA prior to marking down teacher estimates of pupil attainment.
Answer
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) was commissioned to develop and deliver an alternative approach to awarding in 2020, and as such their approach to moderation was an operational decision for SQA to make.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of school leavers with a vision impairment in the 2019-20 school year attained at least one qualification at (a) Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 4 or better, (b) SCQF level 5 or better, (c) SCQF level 6 or better and (d) SCQF level 7.
Answer
We plan to publish the school leaver attainment statistics for 2019-2020 in February 2021.
- Asked by: Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 10 August 2020
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 24 August 2020
To ask the Scottish Government what direction it provides to the SQA regarding protecting the interests of pupils in the most disadvantaged SIMD quintile.
Answer
Under the Equality Act 2010, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) cannot discriminate or victimise in conferring qualifications. During 2018–19, SQA reviewed its equality impact assessment practices, and incorporated the Fairer Scotland Duty into the process.