Some pupils’ National 5 results will not be based on their final exam performance after completed papers were lost in a fire, the Herald can reveal.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has contacted a small number of schools to inform them that Gaelic-medium National 5 Modern Studies papers have been damaged and cannot now be marked.
Affected pupils’ grades will therefore not be linked to an exam but will instead be based on existing material such as prelim scores. The revelation has led to warnings that some pupils could be disadvantaged and receive lower grades than they deserve.
The Herald understands that the materials were affected by the recent fire at the Stornoway County Hotel, where the papers were being stored. The blaze occurred on Wednesday 21 June and no casualties were reported.
The loss of the exam papers has forced the SQA to use its ‘established contingency process’, although details of this have not been made available.
