This year’s qualifications ‘will be valued’, vows Somerville

Courses and assessment were modified this year – but students can have confidence in their SQA results, says Scotland’s education secretary
8th August 2022, 10:53am

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This year’s qualifications ‘will be valued’, vows Somerville

https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/secondary/sqa-results-day-2022-exams-somerville
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Scotland’s education secretary has said the exam results that tens of thousands of students are set to receive tomorrow will “fairly demonstrate their skills, knowledge and understanding”.

Students have faced an anxious wait for their grades but on Tuesday the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) will put that to an end when it contacts more than 100,000 with their 2022 exam results, either by text or by post.

Education secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville today said that while national SQA exams had returned this year for the first time since 2019, “it wasn’t a return to normality”.

“Continued disruption as a result of Covid-19 meant there had to be a different approach to exams,” she said.

“That approach, which was informed by views from across the education system as well as learners themselves, had one clear aim - to deliver a fair set of results for our young people, while maintaining the integrity of qualifications.”

SQA results day 2022: Business leaders reassure students

She said she wanted to “thank teachers, school staff and the SQA, who have all worked incredibly hard to achieve this”.

Ms Somerville added: “Due to their efforts, learners can be confident that the results they receive on Tuesday fairly demonstrate their skills, knowledge and understanding.

“They can also know that their qualifications will be valued wherever they go next, whether education, training or the workforce.”

Meanwhile, business leaders from across Scotland have promised Scottish young people ahead of results day that they will “recognise and value qualifications as much as any other year”.

In a letter to students, signed by 18 business leaders, firms committed to create good jobs for young people as they enter the world of work, while reminding them that there are different career pathways to take regardless of their grades.

The letter, written by Sandy Begbie, of Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE), also said that qualifications will be valued the same as any other year.

“We want to reassure you that we recognise and value your qualifications as much as any other year and that the skills you have developed, and will continue to develop, will play a crucial role in ensuring a bright future for businesses in Scotland and our economy,” the letter said.

Find Tes Scotland’s coverage of SQA exam results day 2022 on our website and by following us on Twitter: @TesScotland @Henry_Hepburn and @Emma_Seith

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