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Students preparing to take the National 5s in Scotland next year have canceled their exams.
High schools and advanced high schools will also be delayed, starting after the date of May 13, to allow students who missed teaching time due to the coronavirus pandemic to catch up.
But contingency plans will also be developed for cancellation of those exams, with “checkpoints” until February for a decision to be made.
Deputy Prime Minister John Swinney said the Scottish government “could not plan things as usual” on next year’s exam schedule.
He told MSPs: “Due to the level of disruption already caused by COVID-19 and due to the likely disruption some or all of our pupils and students are facing this academic year, a full exam diet is simply too great a risk to take. . “
The decision was based on the recommendations of an orderly review in the wake of the exams scandal, led by Professor Mark Priestley of the University of Stirling.
Swinney said, “The alternative approach will be based on teacher judgment, supported by evaluation and quality assurance resources.”
Two to four assignments will be required for each subject, and Mr. Swinney said the guidance from the Scottish Qualifications Authority “will emphasize quality, not quantity.”
He appeared to be trying to avoid criticism that the government might be in trouble, given the U.K.’s four-nation U-turn to remove algorithm-moderated student grades over the summer.
“There will be no algorithm,” Swinney confirmed. “The awards will be based on the progress of our youth and their work.”
Scottish Conservatives education spokesperson Jamie Greene said he thought a full examination diet could still be run next year, though he welcomed the fact that a decision was made on this early.
He added: “I am not convinced that a full justification was offered in today’s statement for the cancellation of the National 5.
“It feels like they’ve already thrown in the towel.”
