This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Praise for Exams Review Group
12/08/2002
The vigilance and commitment of the exams review group
undoubtedly contributed to the success of last year's exams
round and helped improve preparations for this year's exams
round, Education Minister Cathy Jamieson said today.
Ms Jamieson was attending the final meeting of the
Ministerial Review Group with her Deputy, Nicol Stephen, as
the clock ticked down towards the delivery of 137,000
certificates to school and college candidates throughout
Scotland tomorrow.
The Group was established in the aftermath of Diet 2000
when thousands of candidates received wrong or incomplete
certificates. Its purpose was to ensure that the Scottish
Qualifications Authority and all stakeholders took the
necessary action to ensure that the 2001 exam results were
delivered successfully.
Ahead of the meeting in Glasgow, Ms Jamieson said that
the group had worked effectively as an 'early warning
group' for both Ministers and the SQA.
She said:
"After the clear problems associated with the issuing of
exams results two years ago, Ministers made clear that
candidates in Scotland must not be allowed to suffer
again.
"An early signal of our determination was the
establishment of the Ministerial Review Group, chaired by
Nicol Stephen. It brought together key SQA stakeholders to
share information and any concerns about issues surrounding
the exams process. Potential problems were identified at an
early stage and dealt with as quickly as possible.
"The work of the MRG was in no small way responsible for
the success of last year's exams round and has helped
restore stakeholder confidence in the exams system.
"The exams system is back on track, rewarding the
efforts of pupils and students. Each and every member of
the group has made a contribution and I thank them
all."
While this is the final meeting of MRG, in future, the
knowledge and experience of a wide range of stakeholders
will be provided to the SQA through the Advisory Council
which will be established later this year following the
implementation of the SQA Act 2002.
The setting up of the Ministerial Review Group was
announced in November 2000 by the then Minister for
Education, Europe and External Affairs, Jack McConnell in
response to the Deloitte and Touche report into the
Scottish Qualifications Authority.
2. The Group's membership is:
Kay Barnett - Teacher, Fraserburgh Academy;
Eleanor Coner - Parent of child at Dunbar High
School;
John Gray - Principal Teacher, Oldmachar Academy,
Aberdeen;
George Haggarty - Head Teacher, St John's High School,
Dundee;
Graeme Hyslop - Principal, Langside College,
Glasgow;
Roy Jobson - Director of Education, Edinburgh;
Lesley-Ann Johnston - Pupil, Coatbridge High School;
Tom Kelly - Association of Scottish Colleges,
Stirling;
Maureen Laing - Teacher, Glenwood High School,
Glenrothes;
Stephen McColl - Parent nominated by SPTC, Argyll
Linda McKay - Principal, Falkirk College
Neil Meldrum - Head of Music, Harlaw Academy,
Aberdeen
Michael O'Neill - ADES, Director of education, North
Lanarkshire
Margaret Reuben - Further Education
Judith Sischy - Scottish Council Independent Schools,
Edinburgh
Representatives of the SQA and the Scottish Executive's
Education Department and Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Department also attend the meetings, which are chaired by
Nicol Stephen.