Here's a thought: What if he teacher estimates are right? What if the hike represents the true ability of pupils when the unfair exam is removed? http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/shameful-sqa-might-well-have-told-her-know-her-place-dani-garavelli-2936981

Maybe the rush to correct the exam scores is borne out of a desire to maintain a status quo while being seen to do something about it (slight reduction in the attainment gap) but what can't happen is an acceptance of an unfair, discriminatory system.

That would mean we would have to accept our exam based accreditation system benefits the advantaged, the same advantaged most likely to vote, to complain, to appeal. And we can't have that.

So we need to protect the system that protects the advantaged. So let's throw teachers under the bus. Let's ignore chronic underfunding of schools and constant mission creep in their role. Let's ignore that in the most disadvantaged schools kids appear at school cold and hungry.

Let's also talk up the appeals process. But let's remember engaging with this process is a further engagement with the structure that drives your (and your families) disadvantage.

And lets emphasise the recurring reduction in the attainment gap. Even though it's nowhere near enough to make a breakthrough but as a means of pacification this three point strategy, if we repeat it often enough, will deflect from what this is.

Which is the state exerting its power to prevent any semblance of change that might return power to the disadvantaged. It's structural discrimination. It's the preservation of power for those who have the greatest access to it.

Washing your hands in the struggle between the powerful and the powerless is to side with the powerful not to remain neutral.