Students who had their exam results changed in August have started receiving their new certificates this week.

After this summer’s exams were cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said that teacher estimates would lie at the heart of the results process.

However, when the results were published, it transpired that 26.2 per cent of estimates had been changed, with 93.1 per cent adjusted down.

SQA results day: 25% of teacher estimates ‘adjusted’

Students respond: Protests against ‘completely unfair’ marks

U-turn: All downgraded results to be withdrawn

Education secretary John Swinney later apologised and ordered a U-turn.

The fallout from the SQA results U-turn

Up to 75,000 new certificates are to be issued. The SQA said the cost of the reissue would be met through existing budgets.

The SQA said it had downgraded results to ensure they were comparable with previous years’.

However, the move led to claims that the system unfairly penalised students at schools that had historically not performed so well.

After the U-turn, Conservatives, Labour and the Lib Dems called for Mr Swinney’s resignation during a vote of no confidence at Holyrood.

School students also staged protests after the results were published.

Mr Swinney’s climbdown on the issue was enough for the Scottish Greens to back the SNP in the vote of no confidence and keep the education secretary in his post.

The certificates being issued this week will also confirm that any results upgraded by the SQA will also be retained.