2000 SQA examinations controversy
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
The introduction in Scotland of the reformed examinations system in 2000 was criticised in the press and by the Government after a series of administrative and computer errors led to several thousand incorrect
Timeline
- 26 June 2000
The Scottish Qualifications Authority announces 'teething problems' with the marking system, but promises that students will receive their results on time.
- 9 August 2000
The Scottish Qualifications Authority publicly admits that pupils sitting Higher Grade examinations may not receive the correct results.
- 10 August 2000
Thousands of students across Scotland receive incomplete or inaccurate exam results. Schools are left in disarray as 5% of all schools have not been sent any results at all, accurate or otherwise.[1]
- 12 August 2000
Ron Tuck, the Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority, resigns, stating his regret and accepting responsibility for "this unfortunate episode". The
- 13 August 2000
The Scottish Qualifications Authority and
- 14 August 2000
- 15 August 2000
Students are assured that their marks will not go down. However this leaves a problem for UCAS, who has no way of knowing if students with high grades actually earned them or not. UCAS accepted the validity of all results.
- 18 August 2000
UCAS admits in a statement that many of the students whose certificates contained errors could lose out on a university place that they would have received had the results been accurate and on time.
- 20 August 2000
The Scottish Qualifications Authority claims that over 2,000 students with inaccurate certificates will receive the correct ones the next day, and the rest will be fixed 'in a matter of days.'
- 22 August 2000
Now realising that 21 August was not a realistic deadline, the Scottish Qualifications Authority vow to sort out the worst affected pupils' results by 20 September 2000.
- 27 August 2000
The Scottish Qualifications Authority sorts out
- 28 August 2000
Bill Morton orders an internal investigation at the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
- 29 August 2000
Over 4,000 Standard Grade students are discovered to have received incorrect certificates.
- 29 October 2000
Jack McConnell becomes the new Education Minister. Sam Galbraith is removed to Environment Minister.
- 31 October 2000
A leak[
- 9 November 2000
Jack McConnell appoints a new Scottish Qualifications Authority board. 16 of the 24 members have been replaced.
- 25 November 2000
The Scottish Qualifications Authority begins sending out accurate exam certificates to students—three months after they were supposed to be delivered.
- 10 August 2001
Media reports suggest that the exam results fiasco cost the people of Scotland over £11,000,000.
- 10 January 2002
It emerged that an eighteen-year-old student has decided to sue the Scottish Qualifications Authority for compensation after she spent her time retaking a subject she had passed in, but wasn't notified about it until nine months later.[2][3][4][5][6]
References
- ^ Some of our Highers are missing BBC News
- ^ Teenager to sue after exam fiasco Scotsman
- ^ Student to sue exams body BBC News
- ^ Exams authority faces legal action Telegraph
- ^ Teenager to sue exams board for 'mental distress' Independent
- ^ Girl to sue exam authority over lost university place Guardian
External links
- The full report to the Scottish Parliament of the difficulties experienced in 2000.