Blunder leaves Clydeview pupils without qualification

Pupils at Clydeview Academy were left disappointed when they failed to receive their overall qualification at the end of fourth year — because important ‘internal units’ were not fully completed in class.

Education bosses at Inverclyde Council have now launched an urgent inquiry into the situation to establish what has happened.

A council spokesman said: “This is an isolated situation but one that we are treating very seriously.

“The assessment in the classroom hadn’t been completed and the council and school have been investigating the circumstances around this.

“As soon as it was clear that our pupils were unlikely to achieve an overall course award, the school contacted all parents of young people affected to alert them to the situation and to offer support.” One concerned parent told the Tele that his hard-working daughter was very upset about the situation.

He said: “My daughter was not happy with her results.

“The pupils were not given the proper course materials and assessments to be properly prepared for the exam.

“I spoke to the management and an investigation is now being carried out.” On the Scottish Qualifications Authority’s website it clearly states that to achieve the qualification, pupils have to complete three units — including food for health, food product development and contemporary food issues and also sit a course assessent.

It states: ‘To gain the award of the course, the learner must pass all of the units as well as the course assessment.

‘The course is assessed by an assignment and question paper.

‘The assignment will require application of knowledge, understanding and skills from across the units in which learners will develop a food product or products to a given brief.

‘The question paper requires integration of knowledge and understanding from across the units.’ The Telegraph understands that the pupils are now working their way through the units.