Scotland's exam result crisis: assessment and social justice in a time of COVID-19
Tuesday, August 11, 2020 - 09:40
in Psychology & Sociology
Anger and confusion followed the release of this year's Scottish Qualification Agency (SQA) results, the first of the UK nations to publish school results in the aftermath of COVID-19. About one quarter of teacher-recommended grades were changed: most were downgraded, and this was more likely to happen to pupils in poorer areas. This controversy shows that assessment is not neutral: the system of assessment can benefit some groups of students over others and it requires more than technical processes to ensure justice.