The Scottish Qualifications Authority is scrambling to recruit markers for high school exams less than three weeks before pupils begin sitting the crucial tests.
An internal SQA email, leaked to The Courier, reveals there are “still shortfalls” key to four physics assessments at Higher and Advanced Higher levels.
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said the news was “a significant worry to parents, pupils and teachers”, particularly given controversies over the marking of last year’s Higher maths paper.
She said: “This close to the exams, it is rightly their expectation that marking vacancies are all filled and that final preparations have been made in each subject area. The SQA must…take urgent steps to ensure there is no shortage of markers in science.”
The leaked email reveals the shortages exist in markers for both parts of the Advanced Higher examinations, project and question papers, as well as Higher assignments.
It also asks for people to apply to be team leaders for the Higher assignment and directs people towards online application forms, alongside an email register of “interest” in the latter role.
This year’s exam timetable starts on May 4, while the physics assessments are scheduled for May 24.
Scottish Labour’s education spokesman Iain Gray said: “Pupils sitting these exams deserve the security of knowing that their exams and any appeals will be marked in the proper conditions.
“A shortfall in markers in key areas like this does not bode well and the SNP Education Secretary Angela Constance should urgently clarify what provisions are in place to deal with this shortfall.”
A spokesperson for SQA said: “Every year we undertake an extensive recruitment process, working with all interested partners to recruit markers for all National qualification subjects. This year the number of markers required is around 10,000.
“As in previous years, we will continue to monitor and add to our bank of experienced markers up to the start of the exam diet. Where we identify specific additional requirements, we engage with external groups to assist in the recruitment process.
“Any experienced markers, who may not be immediately required, are added to our reserve list.
“We apply strict criteria to the recruitment of potential markers and, as probationary teachers do not meet those criteria, they have never formed part of our recruitment process.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the SQA on all aspects of the exam diet.
“The recruitment of markers is a regular part of the process managed each year by SQA.”
