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.

its a common misconception that you need good qualifications to do an apprenticeship. Over 50% don't ask for any qualifications at all.

That doesn't mean the other perception is right either - that apprenticeships are for those who aren't bright! Far from it.

The issue is employers - what they want from applicants and what they will give you in return. SDS doesn't have that control unfortunately and we get asked all the time to sort out apprenticeship wages and entry requirements but we can't.

You could have two hairdressing apprenticeships and one asks for Highers and another just asks for an interest in hairdressing. Then you can have a childcare apprenticeship offering £6000pa and a Scottish Government apprenticeship offering £18,000pa.

There are apprenticeships available but some sectors are obviously more safe than others at the moment (and better paid!)

Anyway all of them can be found at www.apprenticeships.scot

There's also graduate apprenticeships where you get a degree plus a job but again the salaries can vary!

Hope this helps anyone considering this as an option for their DC post results.

Sorry to derail thread.

It's me that's derailing, I'll get six of the best later!

That's useful info for Tuesday for parents and DC. I looked at graduate apprenticeships for DS1 as thought it would be an easier in for him.

That’s disappointing about apprenticeships but I can understand with the way business in many sectors have been affected.

I think a lot of Scottish universities have been too reliant on international students. I remember in the late 1990s when I was studying for a PhD a prof in my department was making lots of trips over to China to get students over.
I read in the times today that universities were in talks about chartering aeroplanes to bring potential students over as there has been a rise in applications lately though; when my dd1 American friend applied to a Scottish university 3years ago once she pressed send she got her acceptance the next day.

Ds had been keen on an apprenticeship and had had interviews but the outcomes were put on hold so he confirmed his college place on the hope next year might be better.

I had thought that apprenticeship would suit DS1, he's going into 4th year now.

Not that I'm expecting he'll do exams - I'm a Debbie Downer as far as the winter/second wave goes...

I'm getting rather nervous for Tuesday now. DS1 doesn't seem too bothered! He's waiting for Nat 5 results and I think he'll be more wound up on Tuesday morning.

Ds is now trying to decide how he wants to open his (text) results.

He's not sure if he is getting up early or just normal time (lunchtime!) and then not sure if he wants to do it alone in his room to give himself a couple of minutes to absorb them and then tell us, or open them with us in the room watching. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I think he is enjoying messing with me!!!!

DS is getting his by post. I just hope the post arrives by lunchtime because sometimes it can be pretty late.

@sassanach I am interested in finding out more from you in relation to whether Scottish universities will be offering more courses by clearing and also if you can advise when does it become clear that international student numbers will drop (or not)? The UCAS data published end of June showed a massive jump in number of international students who have been offered compared to last year.

So what are we getting up to today to while away the long hours? I am thinking some school clothes shopping (the stress free stuff shirts, tights etc) after a cheap eat out to help out brunch, some cooking then reading trash crime fiction .

Not sure if either are working so today could be punctuated by sighs and shrugs.

This time tomorrow...

@yellowroses16 I don't work in university careers services but I have lots of friends who do and they tell me the big fear is that international students either do not arrive or drop out. It doesn't just affect the university, it affects eg bars restaurants around the campus also.

Clearing can actually start before exam results come in - its open now, although more courses get added this week as students get their results and decide against somewhere.

My uni friends say there will be more courses via clearing than before, and some universities may lower the grade requirement as they desperately need students to help cover the losses of this year.

One Glasgow area university, which shall not be named cause I might get into trouble, has offered one of my leavers a place this summer with just one Higher at grade C.

Clearing link: www.ucas.com/events/2020-entry-clearing-opens-348886

just noticed that UWS has places on their environmental health course and also their occupational health courses.

Now they are very in demand careers right now!

Sassenach, this is so helpful thanks. Trying to navigate Clearing with DD3 as we have been looking at positive plan B, C, D to try to mitigate against heartbreak tomorrow. Can she phone today to find out ? Or does she need to wait till tomorrow as she accepted her first choice conditional offer?

I have a stupid question - what if the uni is in England?

Presumably they don't use the same clearing system because the English results aren't out for a while?

scrub that, sorry. Google is my friend, as is the clearing website. Thanks for the link.

I'll go back to fretting...

Good luck for everyone's results tomorrow, this will be me next year as ds is now in S4 and he was predicted high grades but I fear due to the current situation that won't happen!

Last year it was dds turn but she only sat one Nat 5 and wasn't predicted to pass but she did!! She has severe dyslexia and support from school was not the greatest!

Her course is on the clearing site - same qualification requirements and then..."We would welcome applications from candidates offering other evidence of their suitability for this programme."

I'm hoping that means she can submit a portfolio of the stuff she does for fun - she's always got some project on the go.

Viv that sounds really positive and hopefully gives some reassurance.

What are people doing vis a vis waking up their sleeping cherubs tomorrow?

Mine has been sleeping very late during the hols but I’ll be at my desk working from 8 am and don’t think I will be able to concentrate or resist prodding her awake to get them 😀

Hi all,

Just found this thread. Waiting on 7 Nat 5s for eldest DC. He is one of the annoying types who does minimal work and gets As (his father's son), got all As in prelims and I'm sure would have got all As sitting exams (he was aiming for all band 1s) but I'm nervous about the SQA adjusting the teacher gradings. The SQA mark on a bellcurve every year and will do.the same this year, so I'm nervous he'll be downgraded (as part of the 12% more As predicted than usual IYSWIM).

He's Mr laidback, didn't sign up for texts and I'll be the one up early fretting!

I know the Highers are the most important for him, but still. I think I'm still smarting from DN getting 5 As and a B at Higher last year and not even getting an interview for medicine (She was told sitting a Higher early in S4 may have been a disadvantage as it may have been seen as Highers over 2 years!!!)

@Lidlfix no harm in calling now. Doing so means you could 'get in' before the rush! However, more courses could appear over the next week as many students accept or reject offers based on their grades.

Clearing website includes English universities, yes.

@vivariumvivariumsvivaria yes that's an example of what I meant regarding lowering grades / changing entry requirements in order to fill the spaces left by international students etc dropping out. That's positive news. Give them a call tomorrow and see :)

Morning all,
I'm keeping my mind off tomorrow by working today... DD has gone out with her friends for the day. Visitors at night so hopefully the day will whizz past.
DD has opted for a text and I am waaaaay more anxious about it all than she is!
Good luck to all your DCs tomorrow, I hope they get what they deserve and need

@Puffalicious- I feel your pain! I’m nervous about SQA too and their moderation of results, particularly if they see the candidate is from an independent school- lots of parents worried about that particular bias......

We had one B in the prelims due to a not particularly good teacher and DD was being tutored up to an A. I’m really worried about that result..... as she effectively only has one test Post prelim to show improvement....

We're not mentioning the R word in this house. I have gone from being wound up like a coiled spring to feeling much more philosophical about the whole thing.

This year has been so weird, and so awful, and so unprecedented (hate that word), that anything might happen and we will just go with the flow. If DS doesn't get what he was hoping for then that's not his fault - it's not that he didn;t work hard enough, or is too thick for the grades he needs. It's just that the universe has conspired against ALL students this year and grades are going to be at best, an educated estimate.

Obviously I hope he gets what he does. But if not then he still has S6. Worse things happen at sea.

I know it's a big deal but let's keep it all in perspective. I still remember 30 odd years on the face my mother pulled when I got a C in my Higher English after being predicted an A. She ignored the A,A,A,B in my other subjects and after a half-hearted congratualtions banged on about the bloody C - which was eventually upgraded to a B on appeal anyway. Same as my degree, wanted to know why I wouldn't be getting a First like Sue's son Peter and was a 2:1 really that great anyway?

So be kind to your kids. They've been through an awful lot and it's stressful for them. Let's keep our stresses on here and not pass it on to them.

Obviously I hope he gets what he does

What he needs.