Pupils are at risk of receiving lower grades this year due to “a secret and unfair” moderation system, according to the Greens.

With exam results day just over a week away, the Scottish Greens have raised concerns over Scotland’s exam body, the SQA, adjusting pupils’ grades, based on the school performance history.

Due to the pandemic, teachers have submitted estimated grades for students. However, the SQA has said it will moderate the results, based on historical performances of the school, as well as the pupil.

Background: SQA will not talk to schools before changing grades

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The Greens have been joined by other education experts who warn that this could mean unfair results for pupils, as well as deepening inequalities in education.

Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer has pushed the agency to reveal its methodology and results of a legally-required Equalities Impact Assessment.

However, the exam body has said this will only happen after results are delivered to pupils - despite concerns from the Equality and Human Rights Commission that the proposed grading system may be illegal.

Pupils in schools that have seen the biggest recent improvement in results are at risk of having their grades undermined by historical results, said Mr Greer.

He said: “This secret grading system ingrains inequality by marking down those who already face more adversity, no matter how hard they have worked on their coursework.

”Teachers won’t be informed that the SQA are changing their submitted grades, never mind being given the opportunity to discuss this. This is deeply unfair and only creates far more work down the line when a vast number of pupils appeal their grades.

“The SQA are undermining not only the professional judgment of teachers but the hard work of pupils with this secret moderation process.

“The agency must publish its methodology and the legally required Equality Impact Assessment now, so teachers can have confidence it is robust and know what to expect when the results come in.”

Research by the Scottish Greens shows some Scottish schools have seen improvements in passes of five or more Highers of around 20 per cent since 2015-16.

Mr Greer added: “These schools have worked hard to improve the chances and opportunities for their pupils, but this hard work could now be seriously undermined by a secret SQA system which reduces the hard work of young people to a statistical average and postcode lottery.”

An SQA spokesman said: “This is an unprecedented year and we have worked hard, with schools and colleges, to ensure young people get the results they deserve. This analysis is speculative and unhelpful, particularly to young people who are awaiting their results.

“We have provided information about our approach, but we have also been quite clear that we will publish our full methodology and Equalities Impact Assessment on results day, the day we would normally publish information about our awarding processes. We have said all along that fairness to learners, whilst maintaining the integrity and credibility of our qualifications system, is at the heart of our approach.

“It is important to highlight that, this year, a free appeals service will be available if schools and colleges do not think awarded grades reflect their learners’ performance.”