Hansard

Like everyone, I was saddened to read this morning of yet another tragic suicide of a young person in Scotland, which should be a source of great concern to us all. I can assure the chamber that we remain committed to tackling the problems that beset young people in our schools, including school bullying. In the meantime, our thoughts should be with the families and friends of those who have died—not just this week, but recently.

I am pleased to provide a further report on the 2001 examination diet. My previous statement on progress towards this summer's exam diet was just before Easter. The exams are now over, and young people should enjoy a well-earned break. The overall picture of this summer's exams is a successful one. I thank all those—the Scottish Qualifications Authority, teachers, lecturers, markers, examiners, invigilators and the tolerant young people—who have contributed to achieving that.

I am pleased to confirm that the SQA, in co-operation with the national exam co-ordinator, has recruited sufficient markers. The SQA has also confirmed that all markers have the required experience. There were problems, however, and we will review the process for appointing markers to see what lessons can be learned. I acknowledge the contribution that was made by all those involved in the exercise and I am sure that the Parliament will join me in recording our thanks to local authorities, schools, colleges, teachers and lecturers for their efforts in recent weeks.

It has been crucial this year to improve the management of data. By the end of the month the SQA will have provided to centres three sets of reports on data accuracy and progressively and systematically reduced the number of potentially incorrect entries in the system—an unprecedented effort to ensure the integrity of the data that are received and recorded. That has meant a great deal of work for staff in schools and colleges.

The data transmission process will be reviewed to see how it can be streamlined, but detailed scrutiny is essential if candidates are to be confident that the results on their certificates are correct and that their achievements are properly rewarded. I thank again all those who have been involved in that process. The national exam co-ordinator wrote to centres at the end of last week, and stressed the importance of a final data check. I reiterate that today. The final check will provide vital assurances about the integrity of the data that are held by the SQA. I cannot overstate the importance of investing time this week to provide a final sign-off of data.

I want candidates to be well-informed about the arrangements for certification in August. The SQA issued an updated national qualifications digest at the beginning of June, which contained information about progress on data input, summer helplines, the sequence of results and other information. The SQA has also issued, through centres, details for candidates on what information the certificates will contain, and information on the quality assurance processes that underpin assessment. That information is also on the SQA's website. I will write to MSPs next week with details about the certificate, the timetable for certification and SQA helplines. I hope that colleagues will find that helpful in dealing with inquiries from their constituents.

The SQA will ensure that centres have information about their candidates' results before the candidates receive their certificates. That will allow candidates to get immediate advice from their schools or colleges about anything they do not understand, or on what to do if they are disappointed by their results. Along with their certificate, candidates will receive information explaining how to contact the candidate inquiry line. There also will be two technical helplines, which will be staffed by school account managers and college customer relations managers, who will take calls from their own centres.

As I stated in my previous report, my department and the SQA have agreed a series of performance measures. Those measures cover critical areas, and provide a sound basis for publicly measuring the SQA's success in surmounting the difficulties of last year. A copy will be placed in the Scottish Parliament information centre for the information of all MSPs.

The primary aim of last year's independent appeals review was to review results and ensure that standards were properly maintained. The independent appeals review team will report to me on the lessons that have been learned and I will issue a summary to centres before they return in the autumn term.

My objectives for this year's appeals are that appeals should be made only when a realistic prospect of success exists, that appeals are supported by high-quality evidence to ensure that every candidate is given the best grade that they can achieve and that all appeals are processed quickly and accurately.

The appeals system ensures that we do not track performance in the exam room as the only measure of ability. Appeals exist primarily to give candidates whose exam performance did not reflect the ability that they showed in their work at school or college a second chance, using evidence from their course work. To help everyone, centres will receive information about this year's appeals that will include a summary of the process, confirmation of roles and a description of the evidence required. That will be supported by an appeals pack to coincide with the publication of results.

In November, I appointed a smaller, interim SQA board, against a background of broad recognition that the previous board had been too large. The interim board is working well, but I am taking steps to bring board membership back up to 15, as required by statute. I will advertise for new SQA board members after the holiday period, when advertising will catch the maximum number of possible candidates and we will have completed diet 2001.

The data reconciliation exercise for colleges took longer to complete than expected, with consequences for the issuing of certificates to candidates. I understand that the exercise is complete but for a few cases. I regret the long delay. It is important that lessons are learned and that improvements are made for next year.

The national qualifications review was conducted by representatives of schools, further education colleges, education authorities, the SQA and Learning and Teaching Scotland—LTS—through the national qualifications steering group. The Scottish Further Education Unit and the Association of Scottish Colleges were also involved. I am grateful for their work. Their full report was published on Monday 25 June and I note that members agreed all the recommendations.

The steering group was right to emphasise that the new qualifications have delivered important benefits—particularly the better ladder of qualifications for young people. That creates opportunities and allows previously unacknowledged achievements to be recognised. The uptake of the new national qualifications has been greater than expected. That is proof that they are meeting needs. However, we must make the system better and easier to operate.

The report of the national qualifications review makes several recommendations to ease the burden of assessment, which I welcome. They include a redesign of the qualification certificate and a review of appointment procedures for marking. The report recommended first, a speedy revision of assessment arrangements, course by course, to reduce the complexity, variety and total volume of assessment. Secondly, provision of advice and exemplification on assessment was recommended. Thirdly, a series of actions designed to establish a better common understanding of standards was recommended. To clarify the purpose of national assessment bank items, increasing consistency and purpose and improving quality assurance and availability were recommended. I make it clear that I fully accept those recommendations and will make arrangements for their immediate implementation.

A task group will proceed with the work on implementation. The group will be chaired by the national exam co-ordinator and will include representatives from schools, further education colleges, local authorities, the SQA and LTS. I expect the task group to meet for the first time before schools return in August. The national qualifications steering group will continue to advise the Executive more generally.

The same agreement has not been achieved on what can be done to reduce the volume of assessment more radically. The report recommends consultation on two options that would affect to some degree the underlying principles of the new national qualifications.

Option A would allow candidates to achieve a course award by success in the external exam and make unit certification available as an option. That would allow a reduction in internal assessment for candidates who did not wish to acquire unit certification. Option B would allow candidates to achieve an ungraded course award by showing that they had achieved the full range of unit learning outcomes, with an optional external assessment available for candidates who wished to achieve a graded award. That would allow a reduction in external assessment and in related internal assessment.

Neither option is straightforward, but we must act. As soon as it is possible, we will consult openly on the options identified. I want the Parliament to be in no doubt that I am determined to reduce the assessment burden to allow teachers to teach and students to learn.

A number of other recommendations relating to learning, teaching and staff development will also be progressed. The task group recommended that further consideration be given to streamlining the reporting of information about registrations, entries and results to the SQA. I want that recommendation to be dealt with quickly. I hope that substantial changes can be made for next year. That would ease the burden on teachers, lecturers and administrative staff in schools and in the SQA.

Nobody is complacent about the significance of delivering accurate certification for candidates on 14 August or about the need for effective communication to ensure that all candidates know what to expect. My officials will remain in close contact with the SQA over the coming weeks. They will focus attention on monitoring the SQA's progress against the project plan for diet 2001.

I believe that we have taken the action required to enable the SQA to complete a successful examination round. I would like to thank all those who contributed to that this year. In these critical final weeks I wish every success to everyone involved. All those responsible must continue their efforts—Scotland's young people deserve no less.