Friday 14th August 2020
Please see the following statement from SQA, re-issued on 13th August. Further information remains pending on an Appeals system and will be notified by SQA in due course.
Statement by the Chief Executive of the Scottish Qualifications Authority and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer.
Tuesday 11 August 2020
Everyone at SQA fully acknowledges the strength of feeling about last week’s results among individual learners, their parents and carers – and among wider colleagues in the education system.
As the Deputy First Minister has outlined in Parliament today, through a Ministerial direction SQA will change the previous approach to certification this year and instead award candidate results based solely on the estimates provided by schools and colleges. The results of those learners who were awarded a higher grade during the process will also be maintained.
Schools and colleges already have the estimate information that will form the basis of the amended results, but we will work to ensure that centres receive their confirmed results as soon as possible and no later than the end of next week. Any candidate who has a grade changed as a result of this, will receive a new certificate. Confirmed results will also be shared with UCAS.
We are considering in more detail, with the Scottish Government, any appeals process which should support this direction and will announce further details very shortly.
We will, of course, co-operate fully and positively with the review of the awarding process for National Qualifications 2020 and the OECD Review.
Our core aim is to support the efforts of learners throughout Scotland and everyone at the SQA will work hard to ensure we fully implement the steps outlined in the Deputy First Minister’s statement to the Scottish Parliament.
Fiona Robertson
SQA Chief Executive and Scotland’s Chief Examining Officer
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