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| Scotland's results day: Pass rates rise as Scottish pupils find out grades | Scotland's results day: Pass rates rise as Scottish pupils find out grades |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Scottish school pupils have been getting their exam results, with the pass rate increasing from last year. | Scottish school pupils have been getting their exam results, with the pass rate increasing from last year. |
| The results were based on a combination of teacher estimates and national moderation after exams were cancelled due to coronavirus. | The results were based on a combination of teacher estimates and national moderation after exams were cancelled due to coronavirus. |
| The pass rate for National 5 was 81.1%, while the Higher pass rate was 78.9% and the Advanced Higher rate was 84.9%. | The pass rate for National 5 was 81.1%, while the Higher pass rate was 78.9% and the Advanced Higher rate was 84.9%. |
| In 2019, the National 5 pass rate was 78.2%, the Higher pass rate was 74.8% and the Advanced Higher rate was 79.4%. | |
| About 138,000 students have been getting their results, with those who signed up for text or email alerts receiving their grades from 08:00 onwards, while certificates will arrive in the post during the day. | About 138,000 students have been getting their results, with those who signed up for text or email alerts receiving their grades from 08:00 onwards, while certificates will arrive in the post during the day. |
| A total of 133,000 individual results were adjusted by the Scottish Qualifications Authority from the initial estimates of grades that were submitted by teachers - a quarter of the total. | |
| Of these, 6.9% of the estimates were adjusted up, while 93.1% were adjusted down. Almost all (96%) were adjusted by a single grade. | |
| If the results had purely been based on the estimates from teachers, pass rates at grades A-C would have increased by 10.4 percentage points for National 5, by 14 percentage points for Higher and by 13.4 percentage points for Advanced Higher. | |
| Education Secretary John Swinney said this would have been a far higher annual change than had ever been seen before in Scottish exam results. | |
| He added: "I know teachers and lecturers will always want the best for their pupils but I believe that teachers have acted professionally." | |
| Exams were cancelled across the UK as schools closed and the country went into lockdown in March. | Exams were cancelled across the UK as schools closed and the country went into lockdown in March. |
| Scottish school pupils traditionally find out their results earlier than those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who will receive their grades for A-levels on 13 August and GCSEs on 20 August. | Scottish school pupils traditionally find out their results earlier than those in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who will receive their grades for A-levels on 13 August and GCSEs on 20 August. |
| 'So proud' | |
| Pupils at Holyrood Secondary in Glasgow were among those to receive their grades on Tuesday morning. | Pupils at Holyrood Secondary in Glasgow were among those to receive their grades on Tuesday morning. |
| Dionne told BBC Breakfast she had not known what to expect - but got "exactly what I was hoping for". | |
| "It means I'm going to university and I'm just so happy. I can't believe it," she said. | "It means I'm going to university and I'm just so happy. I can't believe it," she said. |
| Her father John said he was "so proud" of his daughter. | Her father John said he was "so proud" of his daughter. |
| "She's done so much better than I could have ever done at school. It's been such a time of uncertainty and it's a massive wait over now." | "She's done so much better than I could have ever done at school. It's been such a time of uncertainty and it's a massive wait over now." |
| Fellow pupil Peter was "delighted" to get five As in his subjects. | Fellow pupil Peter was "delighted" to get five As in his subjects. |
| "I was hoping for it because I got that in my prelims, so I would have been a wee bit disappointed if I hadn't - but I'm really happy and relieved now," he said. | "I was hoping for it because I got that in my prelims, so I would have been a wee bit disappointed if I hadn't - but I'm really happy and relieved now," he said. |
| This year was the first time since 1888 that exams were cancelled in Scottish schools. | This year was the first time since 1888 that exams were cancelled in Scottish schools. |
| Pupils should have been sitting exams in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher subjects in May and June. There are no formal exams for National 2, National 3 and National 4 qualifications. | Pupils should have been sitting exams in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher subjects in May and June. There are no formal exams for National 2, National 3 and National 4 qualifications. |
| What help is available to pupils? | What help is available to pupils? |
| Skills Development Scotland runs a free results helpline offering careers advice, information and guidance on 0808 100 8000. | Skills Development Scotland runs a free results helpline offering careers advice, information and guidance on 0808 100 8000. |
| It will be open from 0800 to 2000 on Tuesday and Wednesday, then 0900 to 1700 on Thursday and Friday. Information and advice is also available on the My World of Work website. | It will be open from 0800 to 2000 on Tuesday and Wednesday, then 0900 to 1700 on Thursday and Friday. Information and advice is also available on the My World of Work website. |
| James Russell, from SDS, said this year was "unlike any other" and that it was understandable that young people and their families would be feeling more anxious than usual. | James Russell, from SDS, said this year was "unlike any other" and that it was understandable that young people and their families would be feeling more anxious than usual. |
| "Our advice and support is available and our message is if your results aren't what you expected, don't worry - you have lots of options," he said. | "Our advice and support is available and our message is if your results aren't what you expected, don't worry - you have lots of options," he said. |
| The #NoWrongPath campaign is encouraging people to share their own stories on social media to highlight the different paths available to young people who may be feeling disheartened by their results. | The #NoWrongPath campaign is encouraging people to share their own stories on social media to highlight the different paths available to young people who may be feeling disheartened by their results. |
| The SQA's candidate advice line will run from 0800 to 1800 on Tuesday, and from 0830 to 1700 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The number is 0345 279 1000. | The SQA's candidate advice line will run from 0800 to 1800 on Tuesday, and from 0830 to 1700 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The number is 0345 279 1000. |
| Support and advice is also available on the SQA website and on BBC Bitesize. Young people can also call Childline on 0800 1111 or get advice about exam results on its website. | Support and advice is also available on the SQA website and on BBC Bitesize. Young people can also call Childline on 0800 1111 or get advice about exam results on its website. |
| As in the rest of the UK, the grades of pupils who were unable to sit exams have been worked out using estimates made by their teachers based on their performance over the school year. | As in the rest of the UK, the grades of pupils who were unable to sit exams have been worked out using estimates made by their teachers based on their performance over the school year. |
| The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said it had sought to "uphold the integrity and credibility" of the system, but that its efforts had been focused on "ensuring fairness for all learners". | The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said it had sought to "uphold the integrity and credibility" of the system, but that its efforts had been focused on "ensuring fairness for all learners". |
| Teachers were asked to place students within bands for each subject, and rank their pupils in order. | Teachers were asked to place students within bands for each subject, and rank their pupils in order. |
| These assessments were then checked by the SQA, which said grades had been moderated "where appropriate" to "maintain national standards". | These assessments were then checked by the SQA, which said grades had been moderated "where appropriate" to "maintain national standards". |
| There is one crucial test for the qualifications system this year: have emergency arrangements worked? | There is one crucial test for the qualifications system this year: have emergency arrangements worked? |
| The key issue is whether candidates receive results which are fair and credible. | The key issue is whether candidates receive results which are fair and credible. |
| The grades will be based on teacher estimates but had to be validated. This could mean grades going up or down. | The grades will be based on teacher estimates but had to be validated. This could mean grades going up or down. |
| Some teachers argue this is unnecessary, but the SQA argues that validation is necessary to ensure the results have full credibility. The validation should ensure that pass rates and the numbers getting particular grades are comparable to previous years. | Some teachers argue this is unnecessary, but the SQA argues that validation is necessary to ensure the results have full credibility. The validation should ensure that pass rates and the numbers getting particular grades are comparable to previous years. |
| Many within education would strongly caution against attempting to analyse this year's data for evidence of improvements or decline in the performance of candidates. | Many within education would strongly caution against attempting to analyse this year's data for evidence of improvements or decline in the performance of candidates. |
| However, there have been concerns that the validation system could disadvantage those who attend schools where, in previous years, relatively few have got the best grades. | However, there have been concerns that the validation system could disadvantage those who attend schools where, in previous years, relatively few have got the best grades. |
| This is why the appeals process this year is so important. Schools and exam centres will be able to appeal whenever a candidate is awarded a grade lower than the one their teacher had submitted. | This is why the appeals process this year is so important. Schools and exam centres will be able to appeal whenever a candidate is awarded a grade lower than the one their teacher had submitted. |
| There is no guarantee of success and supporting evidence will be needed, but it remains an important safeguard. | There is no guarantee of success and supporting evidence will be needed, but it remains an important safeguard. |
| The exams body said it would look at each school's previous history of estimating results and attainment. | The exams body said it would look at each school's previous history of estimating results and attainment. |
| This sparked fears from opposition politicians that some pupils from deprived communities could be marked down because of the previous performance of their school. | This sparked fears from opposition politicians that some pupils from deprived communities could be marked down because of the previous performance of their school. |
| SQA chief executive and chief examiner Fiona Robertson has denied that a school's previous record could put pupils at either an advantage or a disadvantage. | SQA chief executive and chief examiner Fiona Robertson has denied that a school's previous record could put pupils at either an advantage or a disadvantage. |
| Where a pupil receives a lower grade than the one estimated by their teacher or lecturer, they will be able to use a free appeals process. | Where a pupil receives a lower grade than the one estimated by their teacher or lecturer, they will be able to use a free appeals process. |
| Have you received your results today? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Have you received your results today? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. |
| Or use the form below: | Or use the form below: |