By Bill Heaney
Tory MSP Douglas Ross is pressing for the Scottish Government to launch an independent review of the 2024 higher history exam.
This, he says, is in light of reports that responses to a survey by the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History were overwhelmingly critical of the Scottish Qualifications Authority review.
And that it had been described as a “whitewash”, and that one respondent referred to it as “the most biased and useless investigation I have ever seen a public body attempt to pass off as legitimate.”
But Jenny Gilruth, the Education Secretary, told him: “The Scottish Government has accepted the findings of the SQA’s 2024 higher history review, which was an operational matter for the SQA. The Scottish Government and the SQA met the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History immediately after the publication of the survey results and agreed that there would be a package of measures to support teachers delivering higher history in 2025, including a dedicated inquiry line so that teachers, lecturers and school leaders can raise questions directly with the SQA. Another understanding standards webinar has also been organised. Further, I have asked to meet the president of SATH, and I look forward to doing so.”
Douglas Ross, however, pressed on: “The cabinet secretary mentioned that she accepts the SQA review. Why will she not accept the findings of the survey by the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History? The findings were overwhelmingly critical and did not accept the outcome of that independent review.
Tory MSP Douglas Ross, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth and Labour’s Pam Duncan-Glancy.
“The cabinet secretary mentioned a meeting that the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History had had with the SQA. SATH’s president said that the SQA did not consider the possibility of having another investigation and looking back at what went wrong this time.
“Will the cabinet secretary take her head out of the sand and accept that the matter has not been handled well by the Government or the SQA, and that the only way to resolve it, to please all parties, is to have a truly independent review?”
Jenny Gilruth assured Mr Ross: “I have taken an active interest in all the matters that he has raised today, particularly in relation to the involvement of the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History, which is the professional association of history teachers. It was at my behest that we continued that further engagement with SATH.
“Kirsty MacDonald, SATH’s president, said: ‘SATH has gathered the views of Scottish history teachers on this issue in order to ensure that everyone in the teaching community can have their voices heard. We are pleased that SQA and the Scottish Government are keen to action many of the points raised in the survey and work with the SATH committee towards positive outcomes’.”
Ms Gilruth added: “I am more than happy to engage further with the member on the issue, because I recognise the legitimate concerns that he has raised today. I have acknowledged the various concerns that have been raised by history teachers in the SATH survey responses and the need to rebuild trust and confidence.
“The Scottish Government and the SQA have engaged substantially with SATH as an organisation, following the publication of the review. I will continue to engage with the president, and I am more than happy to engage with Mr Ross on the issue, because I recognise the concerns that he has raised.”
Jenny Gilruth replied: “The issue of trust links directly to our broader agenda in relation to education reform. It is essential that qualifications Scotland acts differently and feels different to those whom it serves. The bill provides a framework that will strengthen the way in which young people, adult learners and our teaching professions are put at the centre of decision making.
“That will be achieved through new governance and accountability measures that promote participation, transparency and openness, such as the learner and teacher charters and committees. A strategic advisory council will also provide a platform for parents, carers and other key stakeholders to advise the organisation.”
Labour’s Pam Duncan-Glancy said the SQA had become “a laughing stock”.
She told Ms Gilruth: “You will know that it is not just the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History that is furious. She has had correspondence, as I have, from a teacher who said:
“’There is a huge distrust between teachers and the SQA. They are a laughing stock’.
Another teacher has said: ‘They’ve mucked up kids’ futures’.
“The fact that the cabinet secretary still will not launch or instruct an independent inquiry beggars belief. In the committee session with the SQA on 4 December, the cabinet secretary said:
“I have not yet been presented with an evidence base to substantiate my instructing the chief examiner to lead an independent review.”
“Why are the views of history teachers in Scotland, and the Scottish Association of the Teachers of History, not substantial enough for her to act?”
Jenny Gilruth told MSPs: “We had a substantial discussion of the issue at a meeting of the Education, Children and Young People Committee prior to Christmas.
“It is worth saying that not all history teachers deliver history at higher level, and not all history teachers are involved in the marking of history qualifications. Around 17 per cent of history teachers responded to the SATH survey.
“The issue that I raised at committee was the need for us to look objectively at any concerns raised in the independent report carried out by the SQA, and for history teachers to engage with the Government on that matter. I have done that.
“I have also made very clear, on the record, my continued keenness to engage with the history sector. I will engage directly with the president of SATH. It is also worth reflecting that the SQA has announced more support for history teachers, including a direct inquiry point and an additional webinar on understanding standards, which SATH has broadly welcomed.
“I do not want to stop my engagement with the sector; I will continue it under the auspices of the president of SATH. I will be more than happy to update Ms Duncan-Glancy on that or on any other matters that may come to me in that regard. As I made clear in my response to Ms Dunbar, it is hugely important that history teachers have confidence in the qualifications body, but it is also a key reason for our needing education reform.”