Exams

comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 35 minutes ago
comment by Tully 1 (U20686)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 2 hours, 50 minutes ago


Heating aside; this whole process has been a monumental fwck up.

On what basis does any examining board decide to ignore the grades proposed by the pupils own school and teachers?

I’d have thought you’d have to have a very good reason and not just put it down to postcode and history.

Shambolic.

Wait until the results are announced south of the border.
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You do realise that if the SQA had accepted all of the 'predictions' by the invested teachers, that exam passes would have gone up by 20%? A 20% increase in one year!! FFS. Who would've believed that??
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Really?

And where does this come from and why is it now necessary for the First Minister to demand action be taken?

A complete 180 from a few short days ago.

NoU turn mind.

Oh no siree.
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That seems a bit twee to say no u turn, when she’s stood in front of the country, said they’ve got it wrong and apologised.

It was always a no win situation. They had to introduce a system that gave grades, and that had to be moderated.

As Tully pointed out, by just accepting the grades teachers were suggesting, it would have seen an incredible rise in passes. The outcry by parents, teachers and pupils has meant that they’re probably going to bow to public pressure and award the grades pretty much in line with teacher recommendations.

It’s like the opening of schools. I watched a Q&A session with John Swinney and some parents association, and the comments on the screen were ridiculous.

It was just parents moaning about the SNP and wanting their kids back at school. Most of them were probably just sick of the sight of their own children. They’ve bowed to that public pressure, and now they’ll take the heat the first outbreak that happens at a school-and there will be at least one.

comment by HelpMordorPolis (U4292)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
My yoot got downgraded in exams. Struggled in his prelims due to a general sense of phuqqwhiterry but really cracked on since and still got downgraded below his prelim results!
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Sounds a bit like Hearts tbh? They were just about to go on a run...

I know kids that fook about then get straight As. A few smart erses that waltzed into their prelims, signed their paper and waltzed back out. Not so smart now?

CS is painting a picture blaming affluent schools? What is missing is hard data, school by school, year by year, predicted versus actual. Then we can see for ourselves who played silly buggers this year and who plays silly buggers every year.

SQA ought to get on top of this if the truth is to come out because there will be only one winner if they let politics and spin play out. As it is the head honcho is likely to get the tin tack so may as well go down fighting unless they are pining for an OBE or something?

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

The Guardian is reporting today that in England '39% of teachers' predictions are set to be downgraded by Ofqual'.

comment by My POV (U10636)
posted 9 hours, 45 minutes ago
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 35 minutes ago
comment by Tully 1 (U20686)
posted 36 minutes ago
comment by Gingernuts (U2992)
posted 2 hours, 50 minutes ago


Heating aside; this whole process has been a monumental fwck up.

On what basis does any examining board decide to ignore the grades proposed by the pupils own school and teachers?

I’d have thought you’d have to have a very good reason and not just put it down to postcode and history.

Shambolic.

Wait until the results are announced south of the border.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You do realise that if the SQA had accepted all of the 'predictions' by the invested teachers, that exam passes would have gone up by 20%? A 20% increase in one year!! FFS. Who would've believed that??
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Really?

And where does this come from and why is it now necessary for the First Minister to demand action be taken?

A complete 180 from a few short days ago.

NoU turn mind.

Oh no siree.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That seems a bit twee to say no u turn, when she’s stood in front of the country, said they’ve got it wrong and apologised.

It was always a no win situation. They had to introduce a system that gave grades, and that had to be moderated.

As Tully pointed out, by just accepting the grades teachers were suggesting, it would have seen an incredible rise in passes. The outcry by parents, teachers and pupils has meant that they’re probably going to bow to public pressure and award the grades pretty much in line with teacher recommendations.

It’s like the opening of schools. I watched a Q&A session with John Swinney and some parents association, and the comments on the screen were ridiculous.

It was just parents moaning about the SNP and wanting their kids back at school. Most of them were probably just sick of the sight of their own children. They’ve bowed to that public pressure, and now they’ll take the heat the first outbreak that happens at a school-and there will be at least one.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

She was asked the direct question “is this a U turn”. Fobbed and muddied the waters as per when she is fond of using the phrase herself.

Same as the rest.

Comment Deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Silver (U6112)
posted 10 hours, 1 minute ago
comment by HelpMordorPolis (U4292)
posted 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
My yoot got downgraded in exams. Struggled in his prelims due to a general sense of phuqqwhiterry but really cracked on since and still got downgraded below his prelim results!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounds a bit like Hearts tbh? They were just about to go on a run...

I know kids that fook about then get straight As. A few smart erses that waltzed into their prelims, signed their paper and waltzed back out. Not so smart now?

CS is painting a picture blaming affluent schools? What is missing is hard data, school by school, year by year, predicted versus actual. Then we can see for ourselves who played silly buggers this year and who plays silly buggers every year.

SQA ought to get on top of this if the truth is to come out because there will be only one winner if they let politics and spin play out. As it is the head honcho is likely to get the tin tack so may as well go down fighting unless they are pining for an OBE or something?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree with Silver that having sight of the hard data on a teacher's record of predictions as opposed to actual would be very helpful. That, coupled with detail on the individual pupil's past performance and the school track record would also be helpful indicators and collectively and in general terms, they should provide the basis for a starting point in awarding scores
However, they are pretty blunt instruments and what is definitely needed is an open and transparent appeals process whereby the pupil can appeal if they feel their award is unfair. That already happens in Scotland, however, and quite inexplicably as far as I am concerned there is no such right for pupils in England, there, only schools and not individual pupils can appeal.
In truth, however, there is no simple solution to a situation whereby the tradition has been that final marks are decided by exam and what to do in the circumstances where there has not been a final exam. Pupil and school past performance record, teachers' predictions moderated and the right of individual appeal appears to offer a fair way to resolve the situation.

The whole grades thing was doomed to failure no matter what approach was taken.

They are getting accused of postcode pottery when in reality it was more affluent schools over grading. Had they gone with 100% of teachers estimations then Scottish Tories would have accused the government of buying people with grades

comment by Call Sign: JA606 Liaison Manager (U3627)
posted 17 minutes ago
The whole grades thing was doomed to failure no matter what approach was taken.

They are getting accused of postcode pottery when in reality it was more affluent schools over grading. Had they gone with 100% of teachers estimations then Scottish Tories would have accused the government of buying people with grades
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Said this at the start, and also when the results came out. No method would work perfectly and would always be criticised. Everyone is looking for someone to blame, and the government can’t say anything about the others involved-either the teachers or the SQA.

comment by Call Sign: JA606 Liaison Manager (U3627)
posted 3 hours, 45 minutes ago
The whole grades thing was doomed to failure no matter what approach was taken.

They are getting accused of postcode pottery when in reality it was more affluent schools over grading. Had they gone with 100% of teachers estimations then Scottish Tories would have accused the government of buying people with grades
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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