SNP MSP blasts 'opposition hypocrisy' at heart of exam results criticism

Annabelle Ewing pointed to reports A-level results in England will be downgraded

Criticism has been mounting on the SNP for their handling of exam results this year.

Opposition parties have been slammed for “playing party political games” around exam results by an SNP MSP as pressure on the education secretary continues to mount.

Annabelle Ewing MSP said Scottish Labour and the Scottish Conservatives are being “deeply hypocritical” after reports suggested as many as 40 per cent of A-level results will be downgraded in England.

Analysis, reported by The Guardian, suggests that the data and algorithm used by the English exam regulator Ofqual will see a net 39 per cent of grades provided by teachers for A-levels are likely to be adjusted down before students receive their results.

It follows the SQA’s own moderation process which saw 26 per cent of grades changed by the examination board, with proportionally more being lowered for students from more deprived areas of Scotland than those from the most affluent areas of the country.

SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing criticised “party political games” while suggesting newly crowned Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross would have to call for the resignation of the Westminster education secretary due to the figures.

Mr Ross’ party has said it will back a potential no confidence motion in education secretary John Swinney when the Scottish Parliament returns next week.

Mr Swinney has come under intense pressure amid calls to resign following the release of exam results, but has said he is “determined to address” the criticism and “act quickly”.

He is set to deliver a statement to Holyrood on Tuesday.

Criticising both Labour and the Conservatives, Ms Ewing said: “The most important action right now is to address the concerns that have been raised by pupils and teachers and I expect the Scottish Government to come to parliament next week to do just that.

“But playing party political games, particularly when they are as deeply hypocritical as Labour and the Tories, won’t help our young people.

“I am heartened by deputy first minister’s commitment to listen to the concerns of those - who were not given the award they were expecting and the free appeals process that is available in Scotland is a vital part of addressing those concerns.

“Reports this weekend that A-level and GCSE results in England are set to be downgraded far more than in Scotland- with pupils having no right to appeal on academic grounds– shows up the Tories as the opportunists they are. This is rank hypocrisy.

“Cancelling this year’s exam diet was a first in over 130 years and every country faces the same challenges.

"The question now for Douglas Ross is simple: if he continues to instruct his MSPs to play party politics with this issue, will he be calling for his own Westminster education secretary to resign?”

Mr Ross said the First Minister should sack Mr Swinney and called on Nicola Sturgeon to put pupils ahead of party politics.

He said: “We’ve all got to be prepared to put country before party, as I have in the past, and Nicola Sturgeon must do that now and remove Mr Swinney.

“There’s a simple choice here for the First Minister. Either she backs Scotland’s pupils or she backs an education secretary that has presided over this exams fiasco, the worst ever PISA results, subject choice limitations and a host of other disappointments.”

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