Teachers and pupils to be quizzed on exam cancellations

Teachers and pupils from across Scotland will be asked for their views on exams being cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Education secretary John Swinney announced last month that this year’s exams will be cancelled due to the pandemic.

Guidance from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) shows teachers will now be responsible for the grades of their pupils.

Holyrood’s education committee announced plans on Monday to hold a number of focus groups with teachers in the early part of the week.

The Scottish Youth Parliament, Youthlink and YoungScot are canvassing opinions from pupils.

Representatives from the SQA will appear before the committee on Friday during its first virtual session.

Last week, the committee announced plans to launch an inquiry into the effects of the outbreak on vulnerable children, writing to organisations for their thoughts on the matter as well as asking Swinney for data on school attendance and free school meal provision.

Convener Clare Adamson said: “Those living in poverty and deprivation as well as those with additional support needs may not be getting the support and services they most desperately need.

“Our committee wants to find out what more needs to be done to ensure that none of these children’s needs are missed as a result of this crisis.

“We also cannot forget for some young people, it feels like their futures have changed beyond imagination.

“There is uncertainty and fear about what the cancellation of the 2020 exams means for them.”

Alongside its work on vulnerable young people and the cancellation of exams, the committee will also look into the impact on colleges and universities of funding gaps caused by the pandemic.