The Scottish
Qualifications Authority was under fire this week when it emerged that kids going to posh
schools were given the benefit of the doubt when it came to exam results. The mechanism,
known as "derived grades", ensures that teacher assessments of pupil performance
would be taken into account if exam performance was below par.All well and good
you’d think until you read the data from the SQA itself which shows disproportionate
largesse being afforded to Scotland’s private schools.
The JT found itself for once in accord with the position taken by the intriguingly
dissolute-looking SNP spokesperson on education, Fiona Hyslop.
Ms Hyslop argued that the pattern of derived grades suggested that kids attending such
centres of educational excellence as St. Scruff’s in Garthamlock might not be given
the same break accorded to pupils at Sir Tax Avoidance Scheme Masquerading As A School in
Morningside.
To their credit, the SQA have reacted swiftly to the charge of class-bias in doling out
the grades. Schools for the Scruff will now benefit from their own assessment process,
resulting in examination efforts being treated with scorn.
Yes you’ve guessed it, they’ll be awarded "derisive grades."
