Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

Scottish Qualifications Authority

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 201102138 Sector Scottish Government and Devolved Administration Category policy/administration Decided 01 February 2012

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Full decision

Summary

Mr C's daughter was a candidate for the SQA Higher physics examination in May 2010. Previously, she obtained a B grade pass in the preliminary school Higher physics examination earlier that year and had targeted a B grade pass in the final Higher examination.

Mr C’s daughter attained a C grade pass in the final Higher examination in May. The school submitted an appeal on behalf of Mr C’s daughter and another student in August 2010.

Both appeals were dismissed and both students' results stood. In returning the appeals, the SQA provided two reasons for their decision, both relating to the validity of the school’s preliminary examination.

Mr C submitted subsequent complaints against the SQA and the council (as education authority). He complained that the SQA had failed to provide a reasonable explanation of why they considered the school's preliminary examination was not sufficiently robust to support a successful appeal.

We did not uphold Mr C’s complaint. The SQA had provided feedback to the school on why they had dismissed the appeals.

Related reading

View Decision Report 201102138 as a PDF (14.02 KB) Updated: March 13, 2018

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