Thousands of pupils to receive new exam certificates

Thousands of new certificates with revised grades will be issued to school pupils.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority aims to start sending out 75,000 certificates from September 7.

It comes after a U-turn by the Scottish Government that saw all downgraded results withdrawn and replaced by teachers’ estimates.

An SQA spokesman said: “Schools and colleges already have the data they need to tell candidates their revised grades, following the decision to award teacher estimates.

“SQA will be sending a report confirming any revisions to grades – including confirming the retention of upgrades – by August 21.

“The Alternative Certification Model and recertification will be delivered within previously approved budgets with no additional funding required. The full cost will be determined at the conclusion of the process.”

Earlier this month, around 138,000 school pupils received the results of their National, Higher and Advanced Higher courses after an exam-free year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Although pass rates were up, the moderation system saw 26.2% of grades changed.

The SQA downgraded 124,564 results – 93.1% of all the moderated grades – based on criteria including schools’ historic performances.

The chief executive of the SQA said last week she “regrets” how young people were left feeling over their downgraded exam results, but insisted the controversial moderation system used was “fair”.

Fiona Robertson, appearing before the Scottish Parliament’s education committee, said “there was a clear and unequivocal case for some moderation” on the basis of the commission received from the Scottish Government.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also apologised for the handling of this year’s exam results process, saying: “We did not get this right”.

Meanwhile, education secretary John Swinney survived a Labour-led motion of no confidence at Holyrood.