Colleges will be open and are scenario planning for the new academic year. Given the current COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, colleges are examining a blended approach of digital and on-site learning and will be guided by the latest Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland advice on the anticipated phased approach to ease lockdown restrictions. Colleges are currently delivering courses through online learning and will continue to do so until it is safe to return to campuses.

Learners expecting their results for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses will receive their results on Tuesday, 4 August 2020. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) strongly encourages learners to sign-up to MySQA, its online and text service, as a direct way to receive results.

A flexible approach to ongoing assessment has been agreed. Wherever possible, you should continue to engage remotely in learning, teaching and assessment until the scheduled end of block or semester, or to the point where your course team considers that enough evidence is in place to enable a final assessment judgement to be made.

Where some evidence of the course already exists but further progress is not possible, your lecturer will review all the available assessment evidence to evaluate whether you have met the course aims. Using this evidence, and their knowledge of your engagement and progress, your lecturer will determine your result based on your performance to date. 

Colleges’ Internal Quality Assurance panels – which comprise of quality specialists, senior staff and experienced internal and external verifiers, separate from the course teaching team – will provide a consistent approach to evaluation to uphold those key principles of fairness and integrity as well as ensure that the procedures being put in place are robust. 

SQA also reserve the right to carry out external verification, although the scale is likely to be less extensive than in previous years.

Further information on qualifications can be found on SQA's website.

Where it has not been possible to complete the Graded Unit (for example, you have no access to necessary resources or equipment due to the lockdown), college staff will use Graded Unit work completed to date – plus a range of other assessment evidence – to predict and award a grade where it is possible to do so. This will depend on the quality and amount of evidence available.

Many college courses are continuing to use online learning and are providing assessment opportunities. Please speak to your lecturer in the first instance who can advise of arrangements for your course.

Colleges are doing everything they can to enable students can fully access online learning. Please speak to your lecturer or guidance staff in your college in the first instance. Colleges Scotland has asked the Scottish Government and Scottish Funding Council to consider providing free broadband for students and staff to assist this significant digital expansion and to accelerate the broadband capacities and speeds across the country. 

Many college courses are continuing using innovative and creative online learning. Please speak to your lecturer in the first instance who can advise of arrangements for your course.

Colleges will make the necessary adjustments for those students.