Dear Parents and Carers,

You may be aware of the statement made by Education Secretary John Swinney in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, the full text of which can be accessed at https://news.gov.scot/speeches-and-briefings/deputy-first-minister-sqa-2020-results

You will be aware that a considerable number of our young people had results downgraded from the estimates submitted by teachers in May/ June. Thank you for the numerous phone calls and emails we received from pupils and parents in support of our young people. We had collated every request for a review/ appeal in anticipation of the appeals process.

Mr Swinney clearly stated yesterday;

I can confirm to Parliament today that all downgraded awards will be withdrawn.

Using powers available to me in the Education (Scotland) Act 1996, I am today directing the SQA to re-issue those awards based solely on teacher or lecturer judgement.

Schools will be able to confirm the estimates they provided for pupils to those that are returning to school this week and next.

The SQA will issue fresh certificates to affected candidates  as soon as possible and, importantly, will inform UCAS and other admission bodies of the new grades as soon as practical in the coming days to allow for applications to college and university to be progressed.

As the First Minister confirmed yesterday, in those cases where moderation led to an increased grade, learners will not lose that award. Many of those young people will already have moved on to secure college or university places on the strength of the awards made to them. To unpick them now would not in any way be fair.

Finally, due to the unique circumstances of this situation, we will this year make provision for enough places in universities and colleges  to ensure that no one is crowded out of a place they would otherwise have been awarded.

Therefore, any young person from St Joseph’s who had a grade moved down (i.e. given a lower grade than the teacher estimate) will now have this rectified and a new certificate issued. Where the teacher estimate was in line with the final grade or lower than the final grade, there will be no change.

This will happen automatically and there is no need for pupils and/ or parents to make further contact with the school (or first contact if none has been made). We will be in touch if we require any further information from you. We will keep you posted of key dates in the process of revised certification.

Thank you for all your support of the school and staff during this last week.

Miss Quigley