JOHN Swinney has cancelled next year's National 5 exams, telling Holyrood a full diet would be "too big a risk to take".

Instead grades will be awarded based on coursework and teacher judgement.

Highers and Advanced Higher exams will continue, though they'll start later in the year to allow "some additional learning time... to make up for some of that lost at the end of 2019-20." 

The Education Secretary promised that a clear contingency plan would be put in place “in case it proves impossible for Higher and Advanced Higher exams to go ahead due to public health advice.”

Ultimately, the Scottish Government believe the decision to axe the National 5s will reduce the volume of exams by half, lowering public health risks.

Swinney's decision came after a "rapid review" by Stirling University's Professor Mark Priestley recommended suspending the exam diet and awarding qualifications "on the basis of centre estimation based upon validated assessments".

The government said they were conscious of the "disruption already caused and the level of disruption likely to be faced by some or all pupils and students this academic year".

The move came as Nicola Sturgeon imposed new restrictions across Scotland, as coronavirus cases continued to climb.

Schools are to remain open, but Swinney said pupils would likely still be impacted.

The Deputy First Minister told Holyrood said:“My priority is to ensure that learning is assessed fairly and consistently so that pupils can be confident in the results they gain.

“Given the real risk of further disruption to education, it would not be sensible or fair to plan for a full exam diet in 2021. Coronavirus has not gone away. If anything, it is making a comeback.

“In a normal exam year, National 5s constitute more than half of all exams taken. From a public health point of view, not running these exams significantly reduces risk. National 5 pupils will receive awards based on their coursework and the judgement of their teachers, with robust quality assurance. We have learned lessons from this year’s initial SQA gradings - there will be no algorithm for moderating grades in 2021.

“By replacing  National 5 exams, we can hold an exam diet for Highers and Advanced Highers if public health guidance allows – these are the qualifications most pupils leave schools with that determine paths into work, college, or university.

“None of us can predict the coming weeks and months, so clear contingency plans are being developed should, for public health reasons, the exams have to be replaced. In those circumstances and only if necessary, we will award Higher and Advanced Higher grades based on teacher judgement, supported by SQA quality assurance, taking account of assessment evidence."

The Greens said Swinney should have gone further and cancelled all exams.

Education Spokesperson Ross Greer said: “Cancelling and replacing National 5 exams was the only responsible choice, so I cannot for the life of me work out why the Education Secretary hasn't done the same with Highers.

"His comment that this will ‘free up capacity’ doesn’t make sense, given that Nat 5 and Higher exams don’t normally take place at the same time, and it was notable that he avoided my question on this point rather than answer it. 

“Higher pupils are still being subjected to an unacceptable level of risk, preparing all year for exams which may be cancelled when the government could have adopted the same coursework-based alternative system chosen for Nat 5s."

However, the Scottish Tories said Swinney had "thrown in the towel."

Their education spokesman, Jamie Green said: “Serious questions remain for John Swinney on how National 5 grades will be awarded and what contingency plans will be in place for Highers and Advanced Highers if exams cannot proceed.

“Confidence in him is already rock bottom, and today’s announcement raises more questions than answers."