Dear Pupil,

Yesterday (Tuesday 08 December) we had two key announcements from the Deputy First Minister (DFM) outlining further changes to the process for awarding National Qualifications in 2020-21. If you haven’t seen the statements, please see:

SQA comments on Deputy First Minister’s decision to cancel Higher and Advanced Higher exams

Delivering your National 5 results in 2021

• It means that the SQA Examination diet for 2021 has been cancelled.

• The SQA announcement indicates that their approach to awarding Highers and Advanced Highers can now “... follow broadly the same model and timeline set for National 5 courses, but with more flexibility around the nature of the learner evidence needed to inform awards.”

• The SQA statement makes clear they are committed to working “... through the finer details of this approach at pace, to provide clarity and certainty to the system.”

• The SQA have published details of their quality assurance processes for delivering your National 5 results in 2021.

We are committed to providing timely and transparent communication with both you and your parents about this matter. We will provide further information regarding the Alternative Certification Model and associated assessment arrangements, as soon as we have further information.

Our collective and most immediate priority remains your upcoming prelims, which will go ahead as follows:

Higher and Advanced Higher (11 January - 22 January)

You were emailed your prelim timetableWednesday 09 December (you can access the prelim timetable here). Individual departments, including Additional Support for Learning (where applicable), will be in touch with you shortly to provide further information about your individual arrangements. Some pupils will have exam clashes on their prelim timetable. Curriculum Support will contact you with details of alternative arrangements before the end of term.

National 5 (21 January - 4 February*)

*Please note that pupils presenting for Practical Cookery will also have a prelim on Friday 05 February. All other pupils should be in school as normal on 05 February. Pupils who have a prelim exam on Thursday 21 January are permitted to take Wednesday 20th January to prepare at home, if desired.

Please be assured that there will be further opportunities for assessment. Your result will be based on a rigorous evidence-based assessment process and a strong set of checks referred to as ‘quality assurance.’

We accept that the uncertainty you face continues to be exceptional and we strive to do all we can to support you during these difficult times.

Please reply to curriculum-support-staff@gwc.org.uk

With very best wishes,

Mrs Grant

(Deputy Head of Curriculum and Examinations)