Revised Exam Timetable

I would like to request information regarding the revised SQA Exam Timetable 2025. In particular information directly relating to the decision to move the Date of the Higher German Exam from 8th May to the afternoon of the 15th May. I would like information from reports , minuted meetings or emails that detail discussions and the assessment of impact on those students who will now sit higher physics and higher german on the same day I also request a copy of the Equalities Impact Assessment EQIA relevant to the revised exam timetable.

The decision to change the 2025 exam timetable was made following feedback received from learners, parents/carers, and teachers. We shared the concerns raised to us and while we made these changes to be as fair as possible to all learners in Scotland, we realise that a few now have exams closer together when they didn’t before. The updated timetable provides an overall benefit to both learners and their schools/colleges – with a significant overall reduction in the number of exams that are either scheduled at the same time or on the same day. The movement of Higher German scheduling decision was based on subject pairings, entry patterns, and overall timetable constraints. The movement saw a reduction of coincident exams by 15, which may not seem significant but added to an overall reduction of 47% from the previously published timetable. Timetable development follows an established process considering multiple factors, including subject uptake, balancing exam days, and logistical constraints. It is not always possible to avoid scheduling exams such as this near others. However, there have been instances in previous years where Higher exams have been scheduled in proximity to each other due to the complexities of timetable planning.

We are unable to provide a copy of the Equalities Impact Assessment as this is still in draft form and as such is considered to be exempt under section 30(b)(ii).

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance, the information is exempt under section 30 (b)(ii) of the Act, as disclosure would be likely to substantially prejudice the free and frank exchange of views for the purposes of deliberation, as it relates to the draft copy of the Equalities Impact Assessment. This information is considered sensitive due to the ongoing public discussion surrounding the revised timetable.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. We recognise that there will be an interest in disclosing information as part of being an open, transparent and accountable public body, and to inform public debate.

However, there is also a public interest in the SQA being able to have free and frank discussion with which to inform opinions and assessments, which could be negatively impacted. The SQA require a safe space for draft responses to potentially sensitive lines of inquiry, to prevent the disclosure of information still under review and subject to change and also prevents information going out without relevant context.

Having considered the public interest, we have concluded that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the requested information.