FOI23/24 023 History Markers and Papers

Date published: 23/06/2023

Please can you provide me with the number of markers for history papers who have had contracts terminated in the last month, as well as the reasons for this?

Please can you provide the number of complaints, if any, made to SQA about this year's history exam papers. Please state the source of the complaint, the paper in question and the nature of the complaint e.g. too difficult, beyond scope of syllabus etc.

Can you please provide for the last five years the number of occasions SQA has contacted teachers/lecturers' employers or managers regarding comments educators have made about SQA?

Every year we give full consideration of the feedback we receive during our marking process where we can adjust marking instructions if any particular question or questions prove to be more or less demanding than what was intended. We can also take this into account when setting the grade boundaries, the minimum marks needed to achieve grades in each course – to check that each assessment was set at the right standard or level of difficulty, making sure learners are treated fairly and that their grades accurately reflect what they know and can do.

Please can you provide me with the number of markers for history papers who have had contracts terminated in the last month, as well as the reasons for this?

Within the last month, there are two markers who have had their contracts terminated. Both cases were for a breach of the terms and conditions of the marker role.

Please can you provide the number of complaints, if any, made to SQA about this year's history exam papers.

There have been five complaints received about History papers and ten expressions of concern.

Please state the source of the complaint, the paper in question and the nature of the complaint e.g. too difficult, beyond scope of syllabus etc.

All the relevant correspondence came from educators.

There is one complaint relating to the National 5 History paper, the Mary Queen of Scots section, saying it was more difficult than the other sections.

The other four complaints and ten expressions of concern relate to the Higher History paper and in particular Paper 2 Scottish Wars of Independence. All considered that the section was too difficult.

Can you please provide for the last five years the number of occasions SQA has contacted teachers/lecturers' employers or managers regarding comments educators have made about SQA?

There is one occasion that we are aware of where a centre has been contacted regarding comments made by an educator about SQA.