Alarm bells have been sounded over Scottish pupils’ new higher maths and science qualifications after claims experienced markers are ready to down tools.
Education sources told The Courier those scoring the tests raised serious concerns about consistency in how the exams are assessed.
Science support events, jointly run by Education Scotland and the SQA, were held at Hampden Park in Glasgow last week for biology, chemistry and physics.
A source said: “There has been a shouting match at the meetings last week. A lot of markers have said they’re not taking part and the SQA are desperately trying to sort something out.”
Other insiders said the issue with maths related to the ongoing NABs (National Assessment Banks), which keep track of pupils’ progress throughout the year.
New guidelines have asked schools to produce their own tests instead of having central versions to work with, but those tasked with composing them are worried about consistency.
A lack of progress on the verification process to ensure all exams are marked to the same standard is also understood to concern science teachers.
SQA’s director of qualifications development Dr Gill Stewart said there was no need to worry about the process.
He said: “Recruitment and training for markers of all subjects for the 2014 Higher exams is on track. There have been no resignations from marking teams.
“Markers are offered a new contract each year and it’s their decision whether to accept or not. We hold reserve pools of markers to backfill vacancies.
“All these individuals are recruited to ensure that SQA delivers a high-quality and rigorous exam system that is both consistent and fair to all candidates year on year.
“SQA has provided practitioners with detailed course arrangements for the new national qualifications, with specimen question papers, marking instructions and three sets of SQA-produced unit assessment support packs for all the new subjects.
“It has provided a series of subject-specific events to teachers and lecturers covering all subjects from National 3 to National 5, across Scotland.
“SQA is currently running a series of subject implementation events across the country for the new Higher, and has already published the first set of unit assessment support packs.
“We are on track to deliver the higher specimen question papers and the other unit assessment support packs later this session, as planned.”
Conservative young people spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “It is concerning that experienced markers are once again expressing their reservations sounding the verification of the marking process.
“Nothing is more important than the rigour of the marking process and the trust which parents, pupils and teacher have in the entire examination system.
“We can’t afford for the credibility of Scotland’s exams system to be called into question.”