Officials from the Scottish Government are ‘offering advice’ in the review into Hermitage Academy’s controversial exam system, it was revealed this week.
MSP Jackie Baillie asked at Holyrood if the government felt there should be an independent review of the new curriculum model at the Helensburgh school, which sees no pupils taking exams in fourth year.
Education Secretary Angela Constance replied that the situation at the academy, and Argyll and Bute Council’s review of the issue, were being ‘monitored closely’.
“Education Scotland is now participating in order to offer advice on the local authority’s internal review of Hermitage Academy’s curriculum model,” she said.
“If further action is required, then I will make sure this is undertaken so that children’s opportunities to gain vital qualifications for their future are not compromised.”
Teaching unions have raised concerns about the highly unusual exam system, and worried parents have passed a vote of no confidence in the school’s management.
Ms Baillie, the Dumbarton constituency MSP, said she had first raised the concerns of teachers, parents and pupils about the issue in 2012.
“The parents I spoke to were clear that they had no confidence in the council’s own internal review, so I hope that Education Scotland’s involvement in the process will help shine a light on what went so badly wrong with the new exam system at Hermitage Academy,” she said.
“The focus now must be on what the Scottish Government and Argyll and Bute Council can do to ensure that current and future pupils will be able to reach their full potential.
“I know that many parents are demanding the reintroduction of exams in S4 for those pupils who would benefit and I hope that the review will give this serious consideration.
“The reality is that S4 and S5 pupils are due to sit prelims soon and parents say that they are already behind on much of the coursework. We need action right now before other pupils are let down.”
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