RSS Press releases

Results this year were based on the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Alternative Certification Model (ACM) that came about as a result of the Scottish Government decision that senior phase young people would not sit SQA exams this session due to the disruption to learning caused by the caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

The model incorporated and allowed local flexibility in assessment of learning to ensure that each school’s circumstances and context were carefully considered and that the provisional grades submitted to SQA were an accurate reflection of the young person’s learning and achievements. These processes were carefully monitored and moderated at every stage to ensure confidence and accuracy of results.

Young people should feel very proud of their hard work and resilience in what has been the second year where COVID impacted both on learning and assessment of courses, many congratulations.  Further to this, young people received enormous support from a range of people.  Parents and families need to be recognised for the importance of the support they provided to enable their young people to continue learning and to submit work for assessment in the face of such a high level of uncertainty and challenge.  Schools have really risen to the challenge and should be commended on having worked at pace to deliver the curriculum and the ACM. 

2021 results are not directly comparable with results from 2020 or earlier due to differences in how learning has been assessed and how grades have been awarded. Results for 2021 are solely based on evidence of learning, do not include inferred achievement, and are based on teacher judgement and not subject to any algorithm to determine grades or grade boundaries. 

S4 Results

• National 3 – 94% Pass
• National 4 – 92% Pass
• National 5 – A-C 85%, A-D 94%

S5 Results

• 1+ Higher – 60%
• 3+ Higher – 39%
• 5+ Higher – 15%

S6 Results

• 1+ Higher – 70%
• 3+ Higher – 50%
• 5+ Higher – 34%
• 1+ Advanced Higher – 24%

The SQA has issued guidelines on the appeals process and timeline for 2021 exam results.

Councillor Jeff Leaver, chair of the Education and Learning committee, said: “Providing the best start in life for all our children is a priority for our Council.  The last academic year was a really challenging one for our pupils and our teachers so I’m delighted with these results.    They show that even though our young people had to adapt in the way that they learned they have continued to put in the hard work necessary.   The vital support provided by parents and guardians has also played a huge role in helping our young people achieve these results.  It is important to remember, however, that some may not quite have got the results they hoped for. For pupils in this situation there is support in place, with staff available to help explore available options.”

If any young person has any questions about their results, they should speak to their school in the first instance.  If they need to talk to someone about their results certificate, they can contact the SQA Candidate Advice Line on 0345 279 1000 which runs from 8am – 6pm on Tuesday 10^th August and from 9am – 5pm Wednesday 11^th, Thursday 12^th and Friday 13^th.

The Skills Development Scotland (SDS) Results Helpline is available from 8am on results day, Tuesday 10^th August and will run until Wednesday 18th August.  SDS Advisers can tell our young people about Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering or staying on at school.