THE Scottish Greens have called for the 2021 exam diet to be cancelled, saying the move is an "unacceptable risk".

Exams in schools were cancelled this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Teacher predictions were moderated by the SQA, resulting in a methodology that disproportionately affected pupils from deprived backgrounds.

A week after exam results were sent out, Swinney announced that grades would be reverted back to original teacher predictions.

READ MORE: Scotland's students will face a full exams diet in 2021, John Swinney says

In a Q&A with the National Parent Forum of Scotland yesterday, Education Secretary Swinney announced that plans were currently to hold a full exam diet in 2021.

The Greens pointed out that this objective depends on the outcome of an SQA consultation, which received an unprecedented 23,000 responses, as well as the results of a review secured by the party into this year's exams chaos.

The party back teaching unions EIS and SSTA which have previously called for the 2021 exams to be cancelled and replaced with assessment through the year.

Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer said:
“After last month's fiasco we absolutely cannot have a situation where exams are cancelled at short notice again, without other adequate arrangements having been put in place. There is simply no way to guarantee that schools won't be closed or exams cancelled, either across the country or in specific areas. Pressing ahead on the basis of end-of-year exams is an unacceptable risk.

"Waiting a few weeks for the results of the Priestley review and the SQA consultation will ensure that whatever decision is taken, it is informed by the views and experiences of teachers and pupils. A lack of similar consultation was a major failure of the SQA this year and it's exactly why the Greens secured the review. Whatever is decided though, it simply cannot be a 'normal' exam diet. That ship has already sailed."

Swinney said yesterday: “Our objective is to run a full 2021 exam diet.

“SQA have consulted on what steps they could take to reduce the burden of assessments before the exam diet – what elements could be removed.

“We’ve also looked at the timetable of exams. Do they need to start in late April? Could they start at the end of May, giving them an extra month for learning and teaching.

“We’ve looked at those and the SQA is currently considering the response.”

Swinney added that his main priority was fairness, saying: “I can’t foresee how much disruption there will be between now and next spring, either on individual, class or school-level.

“I am determined to ensure every student has fairness and a fair crack at the whip next year, no matter their experience.”

Swinney also apologised again for the “stress and anxiety” caused by the moderated grades.

He said: “When it became apparent there were a number of unfair outcomes, I took the decision to direct the SQA to base exam results on the basis of teacher estimates, to recognise the challenges pupils faced.

“I recognise that it caused a lot of stress and anxiety on young people and I reiterate my apology for that.

“We didn’t want to cause that stress and for that I unreservedly apologise.”