Exhausted school staff need support to cope with Covid-19 burden as exams cancelled, says Ross-shire councillor and ex-rector
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FRAZZLED school staff exhausted by the unprecedented challenges of keeping classrooms running during the Covid-19 crisis now need special support and strong leadership after the cancellation of exams.
That's the view of a senior Ross-shire councillor who was also for many years rector of the county's largest secondary school.
And while Cllr Graham Mackenzie (Dingwall and Seaforth) said he agreed with the cancellation of the exam diet announced this week by education secretary John Swinney, the impact on staff, pupils and parents cannot be ignored.
The former Dingwall Academy rector said: "The Scottish Government is between a rock and a hard place and making a decision at this time gives clarity. I do have huge concerns about teaching staff and the responsibility it places on them. All of a sudden, department heads are are going to be making decisions that crucially affect children's future life patterns."
Awards for Higher and Advanced Higher exams in 2021 are to be based on teachers' assessment of evidence of pupils’ attainment, adding to the workload.
Many teachers were already "frazzled" and all staff in schools "need to be looked after" with early talks to ensure a consistent approach. "A great deal of thought needs to go into supporting pupils, parents and teachers."
One senior pupil, who asked not to be named, said some were in tears after the cancellations. She said: "It's what you start working towards from the very start of school so it feels a bit like months more pressure and uncertainty. Some are anxious about getting in to university and what this might mean but most do understand it would be unfair on kids in other areas who have had to self-isolate because of Covid and are way behind."
Highland representative of the EIS teachers' union, Alistair Bell, welcomed the "common-sense decision made with the best interests of the students in mind" but said there "must be agreement reached over the handling of the additional workload which will undoubtedly be created for teaching staff" by the assessment programme.
He said: "This will be vital for a workforce that is under incredible pressure every day they attend work, with stress levels higher than ever before and the ever present worry associated with concerns over contracting Covid-19, particularly so close to the festive season where they will be hoping to spend time with family and friends, some of whom they may not have seen since before lockdown.”
Ross-based MSP Maree Todd called it "the right decision" and said a flexible approach to assessments is essential "to ensure fairness across the board".
Political fallout from decision to cancel exams
Education secretary John Swinney has announced the cancellation of all Higher or Advanced Higher exams in 2021 instead awards based on teacher judgement of evidence of pupils’ attainment.
He made the announcement earlier today saying the exams will be replaced with a model developed for National 5 qualifications.
To go ahead with the exam diet would, he argued, would mean that some of the most disadvantaged pupils would suffer most as Covid had disproportionately hit those living in poverty and the disruptions they have faced.
“While we hope that public health will improve in the coming months with the roll-out of the vaccine, we cannot guarantee that there will be no further disruption to pupils’ learning,” he said.
“Holding exams would run the risk of translating the unequal impact of COVID into unfair results for our poorest pupils, leading to their futures being blighted through no fault of their own. That is simply not fair.
“There will be no Higher or Advanced Higher exams in 2021. Instead we will adopt a new model that is based on the one developed for National 5 qualifications and make awards on teacher judgement of evidence of learner attainment.
“This approach is more flexible and takes account of the reality of the disruption so many pupils have already had to their learning.”
The Scottish Conservatives hit out at the decision accusing Mr Swinney of “dithering” while leaving pupils, parents and teachers in the dark.
Tory shadow education secretary Jamie Greene said: “John Swinney delayed this decision to the last possible moment, shamefully keeping pupils, teachers and parents in the dark for months.
“At every turn during this pandemic, he has failed to step-up and show the leadership required.
“First it was the exams fiasco, then it was throwing the towel in over National 5 exams, and now he has dithered and delayed over Higher and Advanced Higher exams.
“No wonder beleaguered teachers are writing in their droves to confirm they have completely lost confidence in John Swinney’s abilities. That will only mount as this latest decision raises more questions than it does answers.
“The Scottish Conservatives will bring forward a vote tomorrow to make the SNP answer for their disastrous record on our schools during this pandemic and throughout their years in charge of our education system
