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Last week we wrote about how narrow the appeals process is this year. See the grounds in this article: https://www.tes.com/news/sqa-results-urgent-need-student-centred-appeals

SQA have acknowledged that they only anticipate these grounds being used in exceptional circumstances.

2. However, there is no appeals process this year to take account of those who have been disadvantaged due to personal circumstances. That is despite @NicolaSturgeon promising young people could appeal.

3. 2020 is an exceptional year and instead of comparing it to previous years, it is time to make sure the appeals process meets the demands of the #SQAExamFiasco.

4. There is a simple solution to an extraordinary problem … respect every child’s rights by listening to them about their own future. We have proposed solutions but time is running out and @JohnSwinney and @sqanews need to act.

5. Students have 2 days until uni places are withdrawn. @JohnSwinney needs to act urgently to prevent this. Yes Scotgov have opened more uni places but some will close without students. Urgent action reqd.

6. We have written about the disadvantaged students who are not helped by the SQA ‘appeal process’ here: https://www.tes.com/news/sqa-appeals-no-student-should-be-disadvantaged

7. Some of the examples we have include:

Sixth year student top 20% on UKCAT, has place to do medicine but uni is asking for an SQA appeal so UCAS predicted grades given. DFM could ask unis to accept UCAS predicted grades now - this would protect the futures of many.

8. Another 6th year predicted UCAS grades: ABB, offer from uni BBC, prelims ABB - clear evidence available for appeal but no sufficient ground of appeal in 2020. DFM could ask unis to accept UCAS predicted grades.

9. Another student at the same school in exactly the same circumstances CAN appeal - because her guidance teacher says she supports it. She gets the opportunity to go to uni.

10. S5 student left school, had leavers form signed and school won’t allow student back in to do S6. Student feels lost and reports a lack of understanding of the impact upon her mental health.

11. Young Carer worked at home but wasn’t involved in the holistic grade estimation completed by teachers so no knowledge of his caring responsibilities and he was marked down to fail subjects - new evidence would be available for an appeal.

12. seeker told he cannot appeal because he has no recourse to public funds - wrongly informed but school refusing to appeal so no options available.

13. Another asylum seeker still has not been given all of his results. He feels he has been discriminated against because of his status, school ignoring requests to find grades, he can’t appeal because school won’t help.

14. Cancer patient was not attending school frequently, had a private tutor to help keep him up to date with school work, presumed not to be working by school - estimated to fail. New evidence available for appeal, if process permitted.

15. Where else in law would you be expected to ask the person who breached your rights to help you get redress? That’s what students must do where they fear discrimination has taken place.

16. SQA appeals process is not fit for purpose. We propose that a young person would have a right to appeal (where the centre declines to submit one) where:

17 1. Evidence is available that did not form part of the centre’s assessment (for example returned coursework, or failure to take account of exceptional personal circumstance)

18 2. There is evidence that the centre’s estimated grade was a downgrade from previous attainment and/or teacher’s estimate to UCAS in support of the young person’s personal statement

19. These are reasonable, workable and would help individuals who feel they have no power over their futures. This would not be thousands and thousands of appeals but we need to Get It Right For Every Child.

We want #UNCRCScotland to start with opening futures. We need #ChildRights leadership from @NicolaSturgeon @JohnSwinney - please listen+act before unis close doors to the future of some young people. We want Scotland to be the best place in the world to grow up - just like you.

@DJohnsonMSP @SP_EduSkills @MareeToddMSP @CYPCS @davieclan @Henry_Hepburn @TesScotland @bevread40 @conor_matchett @_PaulHamilton @Hayden_AtkinGYC @IainGrayMSP @Ross_Greer @BeatriceWishart @jamiegreeneUK @jhalcrojohnston @GailRossSNP @ClareAdamsonSNP