(147)  First claim after SQA exams problem

Claire Bowen of Dalkeith has raised the first claim against the Scottish Qualifications Authority in respect of the authority’s widespread failings in the administration of the Higher and Standard Grade examination results in 2000.  Over 17,000 students in Scotland received inaccurate or missing results in August that year.  Ms Bowen was advised that she had failed Higher Music; an appeal to the SQA was unsuccessful; and in consequence dropped her intended course of sixth year study in favour of retaking the Music course.  In May 2001 she was advised that she had in fact passed the previous year with a Grade B, the authority having mislaid and failed to take into account parts of the material originally submitted for assessment.  The claim is for injuries to Ms Bowen’s psychological health and damage to her career prospects.