Exam results are out across the UK, but the situation nationwide appears to be anything but a success. In Scotland, 25% of students were delivered lower grades than their teachers predicted, forcing the Education Secretary to abandon the system in place to moderate results. In England we are seeing a similar outcry, as 39.1% of students have been awarded lower grades than their teachers recommended, leaving many disappointed and angry.

​

Scottish Education Secretary John Swinney has confirmed that all pupils in Scotland that received a downgraded result will have these scrapped, and new results will be awarded based on teacher estimates.

​

Swinney apologised to pupils who had their grades reduced by the moderation process employed by the SQA. A system of teacher estimates and moderation was created when students had exams cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 125,000 exam results were downgraded from teacher’s estimates, and many will be relieved by Swinney’s statement, but what will happen now across the rest of the UK? Pupils who received an increase in their grades will not lose their awards.

Swinney said: "The SQA will issue fresh certificates to affected candidates as soon as possible and, importantly, will inform UCAS and other admission bodies of the new grades as soon as practical in the coming days to allow for applications to college and university to be progressed."

Today, almost 300,000 teenagers in England and Wales, who have not been in school since March, received their A-level and B-Tech results. In England, 36% of entries had a lower grade than teachers predicted and 3% were down two grades, in results for exams cancelled by the pandemic. Whatever happens next, 2020 is a year students will not forget.