Exam pass rate rises while help offered for those feeling disappointed

Pupils across Orkney are waking up to their exam results — for the first time in three years.

The current cohort are the first since pre-pandemic times to have sat formal exams, before waiting until August for their results.

This, understandably, has been an anxious time for many, but the overall news is good — the exam results are an improvement on, 2019, the last year of formal exams.

Despite this, there will be those who did not get what they hoped for and Orkney Island’s Council (OIC) are encouraging anyone in that situation to get in touch with their school.

From this morning Tuesday, August 9, schools are offering results-day support to help any pupils with queries about results, university/college applications or option choices for next year.

In particular, the education department is encouraging pupils whose results are lower than expected to talk with their school to establish whether an appeal is appropriate for them.

In recognition of the continued impact of COVID-19 on learning, access to the SQA appeal process is open to any learner whose SQA awarded grade is lower than that estimated by their teachers. This is provided the school holds evidence that the pupil can perform at the estimated grade, which can be submitted as part of an appeal for consideration by SQA markers.

An OIC spokeswoman said: “If you have any queries about your results, wish to appeal a result, wish to make a change to your course choices for 2022-23 or are leaving school and need support with your next step, staff are available to help you at Stromness Academy and Kirkwall Grammar School from 9am – 3pm on Tuesday, August 9.

“Pupils and parents are welcome to drop in between these hours or to contact the schools by phone or email – details on their websites.”

In addition, SQA’s Candidate Advice Line will be available on Results Day from 8 am to 6 pm, then Wednesday, August 10 to Tuesday, August 16 (excluding weekends) from 8:30 am to 5 pm. The line can be reached on 0345 279 1000.

Gwenda Shearer, Orkney Islands Council’s chair of Education, Leisure and Housing offered her congratulations to all who received their results today.

She also thanked their “families, teachers, lecturers and the wider school and college community” for all the support that has been given.

“We will not forget the pandemic years,” said Councillor Shearer, “And the removal of exams when teachers and college lecturers across the nation stepped into the breach to assist and contribute to the judgement of awards for our students.

“This year we returned to the traditional and more familiar sit-down exams, and we acknowledge that this must have been an anxious time for some, particularly those who had never experienced sitting an exam in this way before.”