FOI20/21 164 Attainment Statistics

Date published: 18/12/2020

FOI reference: 20/21 164

Date received: 05/12/2020

Date responded: 18/12/2020

Information requested

I would like to have annual progression statistics for higher to advanced higher maths. These are available on your website by grade but I would like to have them further broken down by band.

Response

As you mention in your request SQA publishes grade to grade progression statistics and these tables can be accessed on our website at the following link: 2019 Statistics.   SQA does not hold the information in the format specified by you and to produce the summary information by band requested by you would incur costs exceeding £600.  This cost is based on the work required to write the programming code to interrogate the raw data and this work would have to be carried out regardless of the number of subjects requested.   Section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 provides that where the costs exceed £600 a public body is not required to produce the summary requested.  Please see Decision 201800816 on 28 August 2018 (Band-to-Grade progression data) on the Scottish Information Commissioner's website for a detailed breakdown of the costs involved.   In his decision the Commissioner was satisfied that the work involved in providing the statistical information in the band format as you have requested would exceed the £600 cost ceiling and that it is not reasonably practicable for SQA to provide you with the summary requested.