Western Isles MP highlights concern over exam timetables

Angus MacNeil

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil has written to the Scottish Qualifications Authority, expressing his concern that next year’s timetable has Gaidhlig, Gaelic learner and Chemistry all on the same day.

The MP believes this will put added pressure on pupils and schools, following information that one Western Isles school will see 35 pupils sitting exams in Chemistry, Gaelic or Gaidhlig learner on the same day.

“Gaelic learner examinations”

Mr MacNeil commented: “I feel that it is unfair to ask pupils to sit two major exams on the same day. The SQA have been aware of this anomaly for a while but they don’t seem to want to alter the exams.

“I realise that the number of pupils sitting their Gaelic/ Gaidhlig exams in other areas might be low, but the numbers in the Western Isles are high, in one island school alone, and it will affect up to 35 pupils.

“With this in mind I have written to the SQA asking that they look again at the 2011 timetable, with a view to moving the Gaidhlig/ Gaelic learner examinations to another day.”

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