STAFF at a dedicated helpline are gearing up for calls from Scotland’s students after they receive their exam results on Tuesday.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) has set up a special results helpline, with careers advisers on hand to provide support and assistance.
It will open at 8am on Tuesday, as about 145,000 students across Scotland prepare to receive the results of their Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has had a team of 7400 markers grading about two million exam papers and more than 1.3m items of course work submitted as part of the process.
Certificates are being sent out to candidates across the country by first class post, but about 58,000 students have also signed up to be notified of their grades via text or email as well.
Graeme Dey, the higher and further education minister in the Scottish Government, said results day was “an important time for many across the country”.
He added: “I want to commend everyone who has worked really hard during the exam period and are now getting their results.”
However, he said that it could also be “overwhelming for some pupils, parents and carers,” stressing to students: “There are options out there for you whatever your results may be.”
Dey added: “The helpline is here to support you allowing you to speak directly with someone who can offer impartial, expert advice on your options.”
He spoke out as he visited the SDS Glasgow careers centre to meet some of the trained advisers poised to take calls to the results helpline.
Day also met student Louise Davidson-Clyne and SDS careers adviser, Maxine Scott, who helped the 18-year-old get on to her dream photography course after she called for help last year.
The former West Calder High pupil Louise struggled at school because of dyslexia and was not expecting top grades from her exams in S6 exams.
She said: “I found school hard and didn’t think I would do well in my exams so, I wasn’t disappointed with my results, I just didn’t know where to go next with the qualifications I had.
“I decided to call the results helpline to understand my options.”
The teenager recalled: “Maxine was able to show me that I still had opportunities with the results I had achieved.
“I didn’t think I would be able to get into a photography course but she was able to help me see that I had the skills and ability to apply.”
Davidson-Clyne, who started on a photography course at Edinburgh College last September, added she was “100% glad that I called the helpline” adding that “otherwise, I’m really not sure what I’d be doing today”.
Dey said: “Speaking to Louise and Maxine I can really see the difference the helpline can make.
“Anyone with concerns, no matter how small, should take the chance to follow Louise’s example and phone the careers experts if they need advice or reassurance.”
The results helpline can be contacted on 0808 100 8000 and will be open from 8am till 8pm on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and then from 9am to 5pm on Thursday and Friday.
Meanwhile, the SQA will also open its free appeals service for those students who wish to challenge their grades at 9am on Tuesday.
In addition, a Scotland-wide trial will give students in some subjects access to their marked exam papers, via either their school or college.
The SQA believes the move will help learners decide whether or not to appeal their result.
The qualifications body introduced this in a limited trial in 2023, with the scheme only applying then to a small group of schools across two subject areas.
Now it has been expanded to all schools and colleges and can provide access to marked exam papers in five subject areas: geography (National 5 and Higher); graphic communication (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher); media (National 5); music (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher) and statistics (Advanced Higher).
Fiona Robertson (below), SQA chief executive, and Scotland’s chief examining officer, said the move was a “significant step in expanding the services we offer Scotland’s learners”.
She added: “We are committed to being fully transparent and open with our assessment processes, and to transforming how we work as we move towards the creation of a new qualifications body.
“Schools and colleges will be able to access their learners’ marked exam papers in the five trial subjects and may use the information to inform discussions on appeals and next steps in learning and teaching.
“The trial aims to help pupils and students better understand the marking process and where their strengths and areas for improvement are.”
