THE Scottish Greens have published a list which they say reveals the schools in Scotland most likely to be disadvantaged by a “secret and unfair” grading system put in place after this year’s exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus.

Exams body the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) asked teachers to submit estimated grades for their pupils, which officials will then moderate based on criteria including a school’s historical exam results.

The Greens say they have been joined by education experts in warning this could see pupils’ grades lowered for no other reason than where they live, deepening existing inequalities in education.

The SQA described the Greens’ analysis as “speculative and unhelpful”.

The party say grades awarded by teachers, based on coursework, will apparently be adjusted by the SQA based on a statistical average, “undermining the work of young people”.

Education spokesperson Ross Greer says he has pushed the agency to reveal its methodology and results of an equalities impact assessment, but this will only happen when pupils get their results. The Greens say pupils in schools that have seen the biggest recent improvement in results are at risk of having their grades affected by historical results.

Their research shows the following schools have seen a rise in passes of five or more Highers of around 20% since 2015/16 – Whitehill Secondary in Glasgow; Mallaig High; West Calder High and St Kentigern’s in West Lothian; Holy Cross High in South Lanarkshire; and Dunblane High.

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

“This secret system ingrains inequality by marking down those who already face adversity, no matter how hard they have worked. Teachers won’t be informed if grades are changed, never mind be given the chance to discuss this. The agency must publish its methodology and the legally required Equality Impact Assessment now.”

A spokesman for the SQA 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 been quite clear 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, while maintaining the integrity and credibility of our qualifications system, is at the heart of our approach A free appeals service will be available if schools and colleges do not think awarded grades reflect performances.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We recognise that waiting for results is an anxious time for learners and that will not be helped by claims based on speculation. The certification model SQA has developed will allow the hard work of learners to be recognised.”