A costly new exam appeals system could hit school budgets and even leave parents out of pocket.
A Courier investigation has uncovered “confusion” over who will pay charges introduced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), as the first tranche of S4 pupils prepare to sit National 5s.
The new ‘post-results service’ will offer a £10 ‘clerical check’, a ‘marking review’ costing £29.75, or a ‘priority marking review’ at £39.75.
The money will only be refunded if a grade is changed, but pupils could now end up with poorer results because papers can also be marked down for the first time.
The Scottish Parent Teacher Council has warned the new system is a “disincentive” to appeal.
Chief executive Eileen Prior said parents will be “very angry” when they realise the implications.
NASUWT Scotland’s Mike Corbett fears schools will have to “pick up the tab” when parents insist on a review.
He said: “Each school presents hundreds of pupils for exams and if 10% want their paper re-marked there’s no way we’d have that in the budget.”
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith has called on the SQA to offer “absolute clarity”.
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