FEARS have been expressed that Scotland’s state schools are being priced out of exam appeals.
In 2014, the SQA exam body replaced their appeal system with a results service and introduced a range of fees for schools to pay.
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That meant if a school asked for a pupil’s mark to be re-assessed and, as a result, it was changed, then there would be no cost.
But if the pupil’s appeal was unsuccessful and the mark remained as it was, then the school would be liable for a charge between £10 and £40.
While that may have acted as a deterrent to comprehensives, it’s seemingly made little difference to private schools.
In 2013 more local authority schools than private schools appealed to the SQA.
By 2014 the gap had switched round, with private schools submitting 2.1% more appeals.
The most recent figures for last year show that gap has now more than doubled to 4.9%.
Research carried out by Tes last year suggested the scheme was saving the SQA around £800,000 per year.
Scottish Labour Education spokesperson and MP for East Lothian Iain Gray, whose party uncovered the figures, said: “Education should be based on ability and work ethic, not your ability to pay.
“In every year since the SNP introduced these charges the gap between private and state schools submitting appeals has grown. This cannot go on.
“Pupils across Scotland this week will be considering whether to appeal grades they received on Tuesday. An exam appeal decision can be the deciding factor between a young person getting in to college or university – money shouldn’t come into it.
“The system now is tilted in favour of private schools. That isn’t fair and should not be the case.”
There are two grounds for appeals for schools, the first being Exceptional Circumstances Consideration Service, for pupils who are ill or dealing with bereavement.
The second is Post-results Service.
Within that there are three different grades of appeal.
A £10 clerical check simply makes sure that all parts of the materials have been marked, and that the marks given for each answer have been totalled correctly.
A £29.75 marking review checks that the marking is in line with the national standard, while a £39.75 priority marking review can be requested if the candidate requires a result to secure a conditional place at university or college.
EIS Assistant Secretary Andrea Bradley said the change to the system appeared “to have exacerbated the existing inequalities between the state and private school sectors.”
She added: “The main factor in any decision to seek a marking review of a student’s script must always be a genuine belief, based on the professional judgement of teachers, that there is a strong chance of the review being successful.
“The issue of cost should never be, and should not have to be, a factor in the decision-making process.”
An SQA spokesman said: “Post Results Services ensures fairness for all candidates. The services were developed in consultation and agreement with all parts of the education sector.
“How payments are made is a matter for local authorities with their individual schools.”
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