The Times: Coronavirus in Scotland: Parents want end to confusion over next year’s exams

Parents are demanding an “unequivocal statement” from John Swinney about the fate of next year’s school exams amid claims that they may be cancelled again due to Covid-19.

A government spokesman refused to deny that some exams may have to be scrapped

JANE BARLOW/PA

A report in The Sunday Times said that National 5 tests, taken by S3 and S4 pupils, were likely to be dropped next year as part of plans under consideration by Mr Swinney, the education secretary. All school exams were cancelled at the end of the last school year because of the virus.

The report, quoting an anonymous source inside government, said that a scaled-back version of Highers would go ahead.

A government spokesman refused to deny that some exams may have to be scrapped but insisted that it was still their “ambition” to run a 2021 examination diet. “However, there remains a risk of further disruption for learners and schools, or more widely across the country,” he said.

Any changes to course assessment needed to be considered alongside a review of the 2020 exams being conducted by Professor Mark Priestley, of Stirling University, who will report at the end of the month, the spokesman said.

Full article: Coronavirus in Scotland: Parents want end to confusion over next year’s exams