Scottish Exam Results 2020

[Lidlfix]

After hearing DD3's deep sigh and worried voice observe "this time in four weeks..." I feel it's acceptable to begin the 2020 thread.

Over the years Scotsnet regulars and visitors have given great support, advice and even (tales of blissfully unaware snoring DC) light hearted relief to each other over the years.

This year has been particularly fearful for us and our DC and I know how much I have appreciated results threads in previous years. As there are plenty of threads with political discussions and chances for posters to express concerns about what politicians/councils/ schools/ teachers are or aren't doing, can I gently ask that we keep this to topic?

I have DD3 waiting on 1 AH and 2 Highers for a conditional offer and DD4 waiting on 5 Highers - results depending she'd like to apply for Law for the end of S6.

Joining this thread a bit late in the proceedings.

DS1 got his results by SMS this morning.
DS2 signed up for an email and has not received it yet?

We are not actually at home and do not have anybody to go in and lift an envelope off the doormat - argh!!

Congratulations to everybody who is happy with their results, and commiserations to those who are not.
We live in strange times indeed....

@WaxOnFeckOff I am sorry to hear that as I thought it sounded promising yesterday.

Season you're probably right. She just missed an A in prelim but consistently got As throughout the year. She does go to a school which has very high levels of A passes so perhaps that's it. Hard for her.

Our postie STILL not here!

Pacif1c DD2 signed up for email & it’s not come yet. The post arrived first

Yes, to me too Alittle. I think that original appointment was made based on the expectation that he'd get in, the cancellation due to sickness was probably made as they then knew the results and made the rearranged date on results day knowing that he'd find out and then not attend. I could just be an old cynic though.

emummy, thank you, that is good to know!

We are not at home, so might need to get a neighbour with the key to go in a open the envelope....

see what swinney says in the briefing that's on right now.

I think it is shocking that sqa down graded exam results based on a school’s previous performance.

My dd is appealing her advanced higher chemistry (good A in prelim and high consistent work throughout the year). Teachers predicted A1 throughout the year and put this forward to SQA but because the school historically performs poorly (that’s what the school is saying) the sqa awarded a B.

That is shocking, Jodri. It flies in the face of social equity.

My DD got the grades she needed. Much relief all round her.

Goodluck to those of you managing sadness and upset

Does anyone believe a word which comes out of Swinney's mouth after the lying through his teeth about how blended learning was always just a contingency?

I am not a SQA fan at all. I think they are, by and large, incompetent. But I totally understand why they took a school's previous performance into account. If a school presents 50 kids for H english every year, 20 get an A, 20 get a B and the other 10 get a C, and the numbers haven't changed that much over the last 10 years, it's reasonable to assume that again in 2020 the breakdown will be roughly the same.

Schools don't improve that much in a year. Most teachers are excellent, have integrity and are honest. But we can all imagine a scenario of a pushy Head putting pressure on staff to bump up grades a wee bit.

My dd head of year did say that SQA are exempt from freedom of information requests, is this true?

My dd was initially disappointed but I would argue they had an exceptional year regarding advanced higher chemistry. She’s got plenty of evidence so here’s hoping. Her head of year sounded broken when I spoke to him.

I don't disagree i principle @SockYarn but i thik that doesn't work for low numbers of presentations and also I think that the cases that were downgraded should have been looked at on an individual basis, christ they'd normally be paying for markers in a normal year, surely some markers should have been retained to take a squiz at any anomalies or downgrades?

Friends DS didn't get his place either, was downgraded from AABB to ABBC and he needed the former. Uni not budging either. School are going to appeal 2 subjects which were downgraded and yes he goes to a disadvantaged school but for one subject there were only 3 students in the class and 2 got downgraded.

Right, DS3 got exactly what we predicted, very slight disappointment in that he missed a C in History and a B in Biology but his marks are a realistic reflection of effort.
Hopefully next year will be better now he has an ADHD dx and is on medication. He is quite cheerful as he got one A!

I agree, @WaxOnFeckOff. It really starts to fall apart for the less popular Highers, or Advanced Highers where the numbers are low.

What is the school saying about an appeal, @Jodri?

My DD did better than she would likely have done if she sat the exams - exams don't suit everyone. She is a hard worker and popular with her teachers and that has worked in her favour - she got what she needed to what she wants to do. It is harder on the kids who knew they could pull it out the bag on exam day - but any system has winners and losers.

Thing is you can definitely have oddball cohorts. My year at school was one of those - school normally top 200 ish (England), my year, for both GCSE and A-level (2 years apart), top 50. Never that good before or since. An equivalent year this year would be stuffed.

@SockYarn yeah they are all for an appeal and were shocked at results.
We insisted on her handing in her project and making sure her chemistry teacher had all evidence of tests and homework before schools closed. Teachers at her school say the sqa did not require the projects or extra evidence as it would not be looked at, so let the kids off from completing any outstanding or additional work.
I know others schools and especially private schools were cracking the whip with regard to extra evidence though.
All grades were downgraded in the class apart from one (lad is exceptional and got 98% in prelim my dd was next in the class with 78% but was always giving him a run for his money)
My dd doesn’t require it for university entry though.

Just seems arbitrary in a small class that current pupils could be marked down despite working hard just cos 2 or 3 folk in last years small class just arsed about or had a bad exam or whatever.

Hopefully folk won’t be deterred from appealing.

Postie has eventually arrived! 7 As at Nat 5, so worth the wait. Phew. He's chuffed even if he is Mr Laidback.

My DNephew didn't get his H English which he needs for college. He got his PE and Business Management. Shame, but there's always plan b,c,d,e. He's struggled with disability all his life and is just a brilliant kid, he'll be okay and we're celebrating his achievements.

Sorry, I’m late to this thread!

DS had conditional for one A or one B at AH. He got BCC and D at AH. Very upset but pointed out his unconditional Uni was still fab.

I went to shops and he’s screenshotted his UCAS. It was changed to an unconditional on 30/7 (not surprised he didn’t notice it check). The conditions are still showing as A or B. Does this mean he’s got his 1st choice even though he didn’t meet the conditions?

He’s got a “congratulations” message on UCAS too???

looks like it @skeemee

I did say above thread universities were lowering their entry requirements in response to a, the impact on exam results and b, loss of international students.

From reading between the lines of the statements from Swinney and the SQA, I suspect that some teachers have submitted predictions that were totally unrealistically optimistic, which has caused the downgradings.

I think the SQA would have been happy to allow a slight increase in the numbers getting each grade given the circumstances, but they could not have a situation where lots of pupils were getting grades that were not an accurate reflection of their ability.

It's a shame that this has resulted in some pupils who deserved a higher grade not getting it- I wonder whether school SMTs could have had more of a role in preventing overly optimistic predictions being submitted.

I suspect our school head would have encouraged quite optimistic results. Be interesting to see what the appeals are like.