Making the grade: First minister apologies for not hitting the mark

Published by Florence McCrae on August 11th 2020, 8:08am

First minister, Nicola Sturgeon has issued an apology following disputes over examination results in Scotland.

An estimated 124,000 exams were downgraded, rejecting the initial grade recommendations from teachers. The first minister noted that the present approach was too focused on the “overall system” at the expense of individual pupils.

Exams were cancelled across the UK this year as a result of the pandemic, instead relying on teacher-based assessments to indicate final grades.

It is expected that education secretary, John Swinney, will set out the government’s plan to resolve the issue today, while Sturgeon has stated that it will not be the responsibility of pupils to appeal their results. Opposition parties are pushing for a vote of no confidence in Swinney; however, the first minister has said that the debate is "not party political" and that she has faith in the education minister.

A-level results will be released in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on Thursday. Boris Johnson has said that he understands the “anxiety” surrounding grades, and that "we will do our best to ensure that the hard work of pupils is properly reflected".

The Scottish system has come under fire for the reduction in the pass rate for Highers – reduced by 15.2 per cent in the least affluent areas, and 6.9 per cent in the most.

In a statement, the first minister said: "Our concern, which was to make sure the grades young people got were as valid as in any other year, perhaps led us to think too much about the overall system and not enough about the individual pupil.”

"Despite our best intentions I do acknowledge that we did not get this right and I am sorry for that."

Sturgeon concluded that she would "ensure that every young person gets a grade that recognises the work they have done".

Share this article


Leaders of Great Britain

About Leaders of Great Britain

Leaders of Great Britain hosts a series of engaging events featuring prominent figures from the worlds of politics, sports, business, and entertainment. Our goal is for every attendee to leave these gatherings with profound leadership insights that transcend boundaries. Learn More.


Related Features


Authored By

Florence McCrae
Literary Editor
August 11th 2020, 8:08am

Follow Us

Follow @LeadersGBNI on Twitter for more live updates

Share this article


Popular Features

FEATURES | Published October 7th 2024, 4:04 pm

Margaret Ollivier: Ensuring Respect and Inclusivity at Expect Ltd

FEATURES | Published September 16th 2024, 11:11 am

Andrew Martin: Steering the Course of Planning and Development

FEATURES | Published July 26th 2024, 7:07 am

Paul Bowley: Transforming Lives with Abbeycare Group

© Copyright 2024, Leaders of Great Britain.