Exam results day for Orkney pupils

Pupils across Orkney are today (Tuesday 10 August) receiving their examination qualification results from the Scottish Qualifications Authority and are to be commended following what has been another challenging year.

Students who signed up for the SQA’s text or email results service should have received their results between 8am and 9am today, with results on paper delivered by First Class post throughout the day.

Gwenda Shearer, Orkney Islands Council’s Chair of Education, Leisure and Housing said: "The past year and a half has been incredibly difficult for all, but particularly our students leading up to this point.

“I wish to offer my congratulations to all those who received results today, for their commitment to their studies, and thank their families, teachers, lecturers and the wider school and college community who supported them.

“We will not forget the session 2020/2021 in a hurry and the unprecedented times that followed, including the removal of exams. This year our teachers in Orkney, the same as elsewhere, have contributed to the judgement of awards for our students in line with the rigorous processes put in place across the whole country to ensure all young people get the best, equitable set of results.

“Today is a day for all pupils and adult learners across Orkney to celebrate their many achievements and successes, after many years and months of study.

“The overall pass rate this year stands at 86% for A-C passes  with just over  91% achieving grades of A-D. We must urge caution in comparing this year’s pass rates with previous years in the county for you are not comparing like with like.

“I want to reiterate that this is a day for celebrating the mammoth effort put in by our young people, their families and the teaching profession to reach this point whereby the students were able to get these awards, as they were entitled to do, having studied under different circumstances for over the past year.

“Teachers used their professional judgement based on evidence of assessments carried out in schools. College lecturers also assessed and provided judgements for their graded courses. They have all done a tremendous job and we extend our gratitude to them for the valuable role with which they have played in ensuring our students have their results.”

From this morning (Tuesday), schools are offering results-day support to help any pupils with queries about results, university/college applications or option choices for next year.

If you have any queries about your results, wish to appeal a result, wish to make a change to your course choices for 2021-22 or are leaving school and need support with your next step, staff are available at Stromness Academy to help you from 9am – 4pm on Tuesday 10 August. Pupils and parents are welcome to drop in between these hours or to contact the school on 850660 or by email.

At Kirkwall Grammar School, Mr Neil Ewing, SQA Co-ordinator will be available to support pupils and provide advice on Tuesday and Wednesday 10-11 August from 9am-1pm, while Guidance Manager, Mrs Marilyn Firth, will be on hand on Tuesday 10 August from 9am-3pm.

Guidance staff will be taking appointments where arrangements and discussions over change of courses can take place on the afternoon of Monday 16 August.   Appointments for Guidance staff can be made by contacting the KGS school office from Monday 9 August onwards. 

Karen Foubister, Skills Development Scotland (KGS Careers Team), will be available in the Careers room in the library at KGS to give advice on careers, college and university courses on: 

Tuesday 10 August from 9am to 3pm.

In addition, the SQA National Exam Results Helpline 0808 100 8000 will be manned by qualified advisors and can be contacted from 8am on Tuesday 10 August. This year’s Results Helpline will be open from: 8am-8pm on Tuesday and Wednesday 10-11 August; 9am-5pm on Thursday and Friday 12- 13 August; 9am-5pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 16-18 August.

Should a pupil wish to appeal any of their provisional grades, they may make an appeal directly to the SQA.

Please note that pupils can only register themselves for SQA appeals until 12 August; further appeal registrations can be made through the school until 27 August. Further information is available on the SQA Appeals Service website page.

SDS’s expert careers advisers can discuss options and next steps including vacancies at UK universities and colleges, Clearing, Modern, Foundation and Graduate apprenticeships, jobs and volunteering.

This is the fourth time Kay Hume from Orkney has volunteered to be part of the Results Helpline.

She said: “This has been a year like no other for young people and it is important to recognise the challenges that’s meant for them and to reassure them that there are still options and opportunities for them. It’s equally important to let them know that whatever their results might be, our advice - as always - is don’t panic and we can help.”

The SDS Helpline advisers will also be available on social media, by direct message to My World of Work on Facebook or Instagram.