Appeals
Wednesday 19 August
Following the Deputy First Minister’s direction to SQA, there are three grounds upon which a centre can submit an appeal.
The head of centre believes there has been:
- an error within SQA’s internal processes for reinstating the original centre estimate.
- an administrative error within the centre leading to provision of estimate information to SQA which did not accurately reflect the centre’s intention at the time of submission, and/or
- discrimination or other conduct contrary to the Equality Act 2010 identified within the centre relating to protected characteristics, leading to the provision of estimate information to SQA which does not accurately reflect the centre’s view following investigation of the circumstances carried out by the centre.
We anticipate these grounds will arise only exceptionally.
It is only the head of centre, or their nominated representative, using their professional judgement and discretion, who can submit an appeal.
Ground 2 above does not permit an appeal where the centre seeks to revise the original estimate on the basis that it considers that its academic judgement as to the estimate in May was wrong.
Centres are asked to ensure the following in progressing an appeal:
- The request must be submitted using SQA’s 'request for consideration by exception' form.
- The request must come from the head of centre, or their nominated representative, and include justification for the request.
- Candidate consent must be obtained by the centre before submitting a request.
- Correction of an administrative error made by the centre may result in a change of grade – up or down. Any downward grade change will be as requested by the centre.
- The centre must confirm that the new estimate or entry now sought can be supported by evidence held by the centre and can be provided if requested
- Centres are asked to submit priority requests for university or college admission as soon as possible and no later than 25 August. Details of the conditional offer must be provided when making the request. Outcomes will be advised to UCAS by 4 September.
- All other requests must be submitted by 7 September.
The appeals process
Following receipt of a 'request for consideration by exception' form, the request will be considered by a panel of senior SQA officers, with the final outcome signed off by an SQA Director and centres notified of the outcome in writing. The outcome will be either that the appeal is unsuccessful for which SQA will provide reasoning or the appeal is successful, and the estimate provided by the centre will be awarded.
In line with other appeals services operated by SQA, a centre can use the escalated appeals process if the centre believes that there has been a procedural irregularity when SQA has carried out this appeals process which has affected the outcome of the appeal. However, due to the tight timelines involved, it will not be possible to conclude escalated appeals ahead of the deadline for Universities and College Admissions System or Higher Education Institution deadlines for admission to courses for 2020–21.
Further information on the escalated appeal process will be published for centres on SQA Connect in due course.
What this means for candidates
Candidates/parents
I don't agree with the estimates that my school or college submitted. How can I appeal them?
We have provided schools and colleges with full information on the revised appeals process and you should therefore discuss your concerns directly with your school or college.
I want to appeal against my estimated grades. What grounds can I appeal on?
Following the Scottish Government announcement of 11 August, final results are now in line with estimates provided by schools and colleges. Estimates upgraded by SQA during the moderation process have been maintained. The academic judgements applied during the estimation process cannot be appealed. The only circumstances where a school or college can now request an appeal are:
- your school or college believes that there has been an error within SQA's internal processes for reinstating the original centre estimate
- your school or college believes that there has been an administrative error within the centre leading to provision of estimate information to SQA which did not accurately reflect the centre's intention at the time of submission, and/or*
- your school or college believes that there has been discrimination or other conduct contrary to the Equality Act 2010 identified within the centre relating to protected characteristics, leading to the provision of estimate information to SQA which does not accurately reflect the centre's view following investigation of the circumstances carried out by the centre.
* Ground 2 above does not permit an appeal where the school or college seeks to revise the original estimate on the basis that it considers that its academic judgement as to the estimate in May was wrong.
My school or college says it can't appeal under the new process. What can I do now?
Please use your school or college's internal procedure to take this complaint further.
I've used my school or college complaints procedure but I'm still not happy with the outcome. What action can I take now?
The relevant complaints procedure within the school or college should explain your options to escalate your appeal, for example you may be able to refer your complaint to the local authority or to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
I've been told that I can't appeal the academic judgement of my estimated grade under the appeals process. Why is this?
Academic judgements made during the estimation process cannot be appealed. Schools and colleges undertook a rigorous process in May 2020 to decide estimates, which included internal quality assurance measures such as review of estimates by more than one teacher and approval by the Head of centre.
As announced on 11 August, SQA was directed to adopt centre estimates as the basis of awarding in 2020 and that the planned appeals process involving review of evidence by SQA subject experts was not needed. Therefore, the revised appeals process does not include a review of academic judgements of estimated grades.
What should I do if I'm concerned that my child was discriminated against and I think it impacted on the estimate that they were given?
If you are concerned that there has been discrimination or any other conduct that is contrary to the Equality Act 2010, the school or college will undertake an internal review to investigate if a candidate's estimate was affected and will submit an appeals to SQA should they conclude that this has been the case.
Centres
How do we appeal on the grounds that "the Head of Centre believes that there has been an error within SQA's internal processes for reinstating the original centre estimate"?
For appeals under Ground 1, centres should write to SQA detailing their concerns and email it to the address advised in SQA's message of 18 August.
Tuesday 11 August
Following on from Education Secretary John Swinney's statement to Parliament, where it was announced all downgraded awards will be withdrawn and results re-issued based solely on teacher or lecturer judgement.
