Students will be offered online revision classes and targeted support ahead of the 2022 Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) exams, ministers have said.
Headteachers will be able to refer those most affected by Covid for the special sessions, the Scottish government said today.
Extra online revision sessions will be offered during evenings and in the school Easter holidays.
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The plans were set out by education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville in a written answer to a question in the Scottish Parliament.
Covid: Online revision sessions before SQA exams
Covid led to the cancellation of national exams for the past two years, although the government is working on the basis that exams will go ahead in 2022.
In her written answer, Ms Somerville said: “Our approach empowers headteachers to decide how best to invest their allocation to best support their disadvantaged pupils, including those that will be preparing for SQA examinations in spring 2022.
“Teachers know their pupils best and will take cognisance of best practice to put in place supports that will allow learners to maximise their senior phase attainment in session 2021-22.”
Early responses to the announcement have sought more information on who will be delivering the sessions, with concerns around the prospects of inexperienced tutors or overworked teachers bearing the load.
Although a national review of Scottish education - including the issue of what should replace the beleaguered SQA - has just started, some have taken today’s announcement about revision sessions as a sign that bolstering the current exams system, rather than reforming it, is the priority,
Lecturer James McEnaney, who has called for fundamental reform of exams, tweeted: “Remember when we all thought this was going to be the time for reforming and improving Scottish education, instead of defending the status quo? Well, not so much.”
Pupils sitting exams in 2022 will be offered support including online revision classes & targeted help for those who need it most.
Education Secretary @S_A_Somerville says @scotgov will seek to increase in-person study opportunities over Easter.
More ➡️https://t.co/f1GqXfCLIo pic.twitter.com/V7Y4gCmeBA
- ScotGov Education (@ScotGovEdu) October 5, 2021
The Scottish government has today also published a report on how it will help the education system recover following the pandemic.
Ministers say that so far £450 million extra funding has been provided over the past two years to help education, including £240 million on recruiting extra staff and helping teachers.
Around 3,500 teachers and 500 classroom assistants are expected to be recruited over the next five years.
Pupils will also be guaranteed access to mental health support in schools, including counselling sessions, today’s report says.
