REVISE EXAMS TO BRIDGE THE GAP

Union: Focus on tests fails poorest kids

- VIVIENNE AITKEN

‘VICTORIAN’ SYSTEM SLAMMED

PRESSURE is mounting on the Scottish Government to change the school exams system to narrow the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils.

Figures earlier this week showed a growing gap in exam success between the poorest and the richest children.

And the problem got worse when pupils returned to traditional exams after two years when grades were handed out based on teacher assessments due to coronavirus.

Opposition politicians and union bosses agree that the existing exam system is seriously flawed and unfairly penalises poorer pupils.

Last night, EIS union general secretary Andrea Bradley said it was time for a rethink of the "Victorian" exam system.

She said: "While education has evolved a great deal in recent years, our qualifications system has remained largely the same since the Victorian era, with multiple inequalities baked into it that contribute to attainment gaps.