# JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: The SNP stole a generation’s dreams with a scandalous postcode lottery…yet they won’t say sorry

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/jonathan-brocklebank-the-snp-stole-a-generations-dreams-with-a-scandalous-postcode-lottery-yet-they-wont-say-sorry/
- Published: 2026-10-29T20:04:32+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-29T20:21:34+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16250497/SNP-stole-generations-dreams-scandalous-postcode-lottery.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Scotland’s 2020 grading system lowered many pupils’ estimated results.
- Erin Bleakley says the grades derailed her veterinary ambitions.
- The article argues school histories shaped pupils’ outcomes.

## Summary

The article says a 2020 Scottish grading policy unfairly lowered the results of pupils whose schools had historically weaker performance, disrupting students’ plans and undermining confidence. It focuses on Erin Bleakley, who hoped to study veterinary medicine, and argues that the Scottish Government has not properly apologised for the harm caused.

With school exams cancelled during the Covid pandemic, teachers initially estimated grades, which the Scottish Qualifications Authority then moderated using schools’ past results. The article says almost 125,000 Higher grades were lowered, with the approach reinforcing the attainment gap it was intended to address. Bleakley, then 17, received three Bs, a C and two Ds despite strong prelim results; another student cited, Eva Peteranna, said her grades forced her to reconsider her career path.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.