Erin Bleakley, a student whose highers results were downgraded by an emergency algorithm during the Covid-19 pandemic in Scotland, is calling for accountability from education bosses as Fiona Robertson prepares to give evidence to the Scottish Covid Inquiry.
The August 2020 Results Day and the Algorithmic Downgrade
In August 2020, Erin Bleakley opened an envelope containing three Bs, one C, and two Ds. She had been studying for six Highers, achieved A grades in her prelims, and planned to study veterinary medicine. The unexpected grades caused an immediate physiological reaction. As the source reported, “My legs buckled beneath me, I remember feeling I just couldn’t believe this had happened.”
"Our postcode does not define us"17-year-old Erin Bleakley is leading a rally in George Square this morning as pupils send a defiant message to the Scottish Government over downgraded exam results.READ MORE: https://t.co/k1TMM1jhgm #SQAResults #SQAProtest pic.twitter.com/5Y4PN4NlSz
Following the March 2020 school closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic, teachers had been instructed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) to estimate exam grades. A later review found no consistency with how this was carried out around the country. In June 2020, the SQA lowered 125,000 of these grades using an algorithm, saying the grades did not tally with the outcomes of previous cohorts at the same schools. Public outrage erupted when the statistical adjustment disproportionately affected pupils from deprived communities.
Protests, Apologies, and the Pivot to Human Geography
Public outrage grew rapidly as students discovered that teacher estimates had been systematically overridden. Erin organized a Facebook page and led a protest in Glasgow’s George Square. John Swinney, who served as education secretary at the time, told MSPs that all downgraded results would be restored to teacher estimates and apologized for the feeling of unfairness caused by the process.
Despite the restoration of grades, the delay forced many students into clearing, ruining initial university plans. Erin’s adjusted grades were insufficient for veterinary medicine, prompting her to pivot to studying human geography. She is now a PhD student at the University of Glasgow, studying environmental research and community work while looking into automated algorithms and the effect on lived experiences.
The Ongoing Scottish Covid Inquiry
As Fiona Robertson prepares to give evidence to the Scottish Covid Inquiry, Erin continues to demand institutional accountability. A Scottish government spokesperson stated that the unprecedented pandemic created a challenging situation, noting that the administration is a key participant in both the UK and Scottish Covid Inquiries. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Qualifications Scotland, the agency that replaced the SQA, confirmed its continued engagement with the ongoing inquiry.
References
- BBC News. “‘My legs buckled when I opened my exam results during Covid’.”
