Scotland’s education secretary has insisted Scotland’s new exam system will be “unaffected” by one of its architects quitting his post.
Mike Russell was challenged by Labour’s Kezia Dugdale over the resignation of Roderick Gillespie from his role as head of Curriculum for Excellence at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) at Holyrood.
The shock news came amid a wave of criticism around the new qualifications, the implementation of which has been criticised by teaching unions, parents and pupils.
Mr Russell said: “Mr Gillespie remains in post until after the first national exam has been taken, by which time all development work relating to the new highers will also be complete.
“Therefore, it is little surprising that the SQA, along with the other partners that are involved in delivering CFE, is able to say with confidence that the new qualifications will be unaffected by the change in personnel.
“The introduction of the new qualifications remains on track.”
Ms Dugdale cited an email she received from a parent, which questioned whether Mr Gillespie wanted “to leave before he has to deal with sorting out the mess that he has created?”
The note added: “News of Mr Gillespie’s resignation does not give me confidence and has made me even more worried about the way the new exams have been introduced.
“There seems to be constant testing with no time for consolidation in class. My son has continually complained about the courses being rushed and about mistakes in the course materials being used to help revise.”
Ms Dugdale asked Mr Russell: “What does the cabinet secretary have to say to that parent? Is he proud of his Government’s record on the delivery of Curriculum for Excellence and the new exams? Will he take full responsibility for them?”
Mr Russell said he agreed with Jackie Brock, the chief executive officer of Children in Scotland, who has said young people “will not be worrying about the departure of one individual from the SQA”.
He also questioned why Ms Dugdale had spoken to a newspaper and told her she should had telephoned the SQA instead to “provide the best support” for students.
Mr Russell added: “We now need to move towards the first diet of exams, which I stress is only 42 days away, in a way that supports our learners and does not simply seek publicity for politicians.”