Tag: Orkney

Storm Floris: Delays to SQA Results postal deliveries

SQA ISSUES RESULTS DELAY WARNING

Due to the widespread disruption caused by Storm Floris, Royal Mail has confirmed that there will be delays to the delivery of SQA results in several parts of Scotland.

In particular, we (SQA) know deliveries to the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland will be delayed due to the adverse weather. Further localised delays to deliveries may occur at short notice.

If any affected candidates wish to know their results, they should contact their school or college in the first instance who should be able to help them.

Alternatively, learners can submit an enquiry via the SQA website at:

https://www.sqa.org.uk/learnerenquiry 

and their query will be responded to by our team after 12 noon on Tuesday 5 August.

We are not anticipating any impact on the MySQA text and email service.

  • Over 147,000 young people will receive results today
  • SQA will offer a free appeals service and a dedicated advice line

Support and guidance are available to the tens of thousands of young people across Scotland awaiting the results of their SQA qualifications today.

Over 147,000 learners across Scotland will receive the result(s) of their SQA Nationals, Highers, Advanced Highers, and Skills for Work Awards on Tuesday 5 August. Learners completing National Progression Awards, National Certificates, and Awards are also certified on Tuesday 5 August and throughout the year.

All learners will receive a copy of their Scottish Qualifications Certificate delivered to their home address by first-class post, while everyone who signed up for and activated a MySQA account will also receive their results by text and/or email the same morning.

If learners do not receive their certificate with their post, they can contact their school, college or training provider, who can provide results and work with SQA to find out what has happened to the certificate.

Guidance and next steps

These results will allow young people to take the next step on their learning journey; either continuing at school, moving on to college or university, or entering employment or a workplace-based training programme.

Many of those receiving certification have completed vocational courses, qualifications, and apprenticeships in schools, colleges and other training centres, including Skills for Work Awards, National Progression Awards, and National Certificates, in areas ranging from Barista Skills and Beekeeping to Esports and Construction.

Stuart McKenna, Chief Executive of the Scottish Training Federation – which represents over 140 organisations operating in the field of work-based training across Scotland – explains the importance of vocational training and qualifications within schools, and the routes that can open-up to young people as a result:

“Vocational qualifications, awards, and apprenticeships offer young people an invaluable opportunity by combining education with practical experience. hese pathways open the door to further learning, career development, and employment by helping young people gain real-world skills that employers actively seek. 

“With a strong emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning, these courses help young people understand the world of work, explore different industries, and build the confidence and skills they need to succeed in their future careers.”

Appeals service

SQA’s free appeals service opens at 9am on Tuesday 5 August and candidates can submit an appeal directly via the SQA website, or ask their school, college, or training provider to submit one on their behalf.

A senior marker will carry out a marking review of SQA-marked assessments, and a grade may go up, down, or stay the same. Learners are advised to speak to their teacher or lecturer before submitting an appeal.

Priority appeals are available for learners who have a conditional offer for a college or university place or for a training or employment offer.

These must be submitted to SQA by Tuesday 12 August or by Thursday 21 August if the learner’s school, college or training provider submits the appeal for them. All other appeals must be submitted by Tuesday 26 August or by Friday 29 August if the learner’s school, college or training provider submits the appeal for them.

Annette McKenna, Senior Operations Manager at SQA explains: “If you’re concerned about your results for National 5, Higher, or Advanced Higher, you can appeal your grade for free, but I’d encourage anyone considering this to chat with their teacher or lecturer first – they can help you think through your options and what’s best for you.

“Learners can be confident that the qualifications they’ve earned are fair and credible, reflecting the knowledge, understanding, and skills they’ve developed through their hard work.

“Similarly, colleges, universities, and employers can trust that the high standards and integrity of our qualifications have been upheld.”

SQA’s Candidate Advice Line will be available on Results Day from 8am to 6pm, then Wednesday 6 August to Friday 8 August from 8:30am to 5pm. The line can be reached on 0345 279 1000.

Skills Development Scotland’s expert advisers will also be on hand to offer guidance on course vacancies at colleges and universities, Confirmation and Clearing, Foundation, Modern and Graduate Apprenticeships, jobs, volunteering, or staying on at school.

Their helpline can be reached at 0808 100 8000 and will be open from 8am to 8pm on Tuesday 5 August and Wednesday 6 August. It will be open 9am to 5pm on Thursday 7 August and Friday 8 August.

Annette McKenna added: “I encourage anyone who has any queries or needs advice come Results Day, to call the helplines where dedicated members of staff will be happy to help and guide you.

“Remember, whether your achievements are what you expect, or not, there are many different routes available to shape your future success.”

More information is available on the Results Day pages of the SQA website

Island Games come to Scotland

Games are part of a four-year pipeline of major events

The largest event ever hosted in Orkney begins today, as part of four years of international sport in Scotland which are expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and provide a significant economic boost.

Orkney is welcoming more than 1,600 athletes from 24 island groups for the 20th International Island Games, which run until 18 July. Orkney is the smallest island group to ever host the Games and competitors have come from as far afield as the Falklands, the Cayman Islands, Saaremaa in Estonia and Åland in Finland.

It is the first of a series of high-profile sporting events being hosted in Scotland, which include this weekend’s Genesis Scottish Open, the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the 2027 Grand Départ of the Tour de France, the 2027 Open Championship and the 2028 UEFA European football championships.

The Scottish Government invests in major events to maximise local and national economic benefits. At the end of 2024, it was revealed that the last Open Championship in Scotland added more than £300 million to the economy, highlighting the scale of opportunity for the next four years.

Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “The Orkney Island Games represent a significant opportunity to drive economic growth and build a lasting legacy for people and businesses in Orkney and beyond.

“They also provide a taste of what is to come and illustrate our wider ambition to make sure every corner of Scotland benefits from the prestigious events we are increasingly able to attract.  

“This is a team effort and the benefits go way beyond the events themselves. The global platform they provide enables us to highlight Scotland to tourists, businesses and potential inward investors across the world.”

Information about the Orkney 2025 International Island Games is available online.

Scottish Office minister goes back to the future in Orkney

Clean energy and tourism were top of the agenda as UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart took a fact finding trip to Orkney at the end of August.

The Minister met with Orkney Islands Council leaders and key stakeholders as he toured the archipelago to see first hand how it’s using its Neolithic ruins and world leading renewables expertise to deliver a bright future.

He heard how the UK Government’s £50 million contribution to the Islands Growth Deal will help Orkney stay at the cutting edge of green energy and boost tourism.

The £335 million Islands Growth Deal is a partnership between the UK and Scottish governments and organisations across Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.

Among the facilities the Minister visited in Stromness were the Orkney Research and Innovation Campus for renewables research and Aquatera/European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) who have established the Islands Centre for Net Zero to pool efforts in the race to reach net zero.

The Minister met with Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd at Kirkwall Airport to hear about the development of electric planes and saw a Hydrogen Filling Station in action at Hatston, before meetings with council leaders for a discussion on energy, digital connectivity and COP26, which Shetland Islands Council also joined.

He completed his visits with the world famous, 5,000-years-old Skara Brae village and heard about plans to increase visitor numbers to boost the local economy.

https://youtu.be/xUn5MBZYntQ

Minister Stewart said: “It was a great experience to visit Orkney and I’m delighted the Islands Deal Growth deal is going to help develop the future of the archipelago alongside Shetland and the Outer Hebrides.

“I saw how Orkney has the potential to generate through wind, waves and tides, a vast amount of the renewable energy that the UK needs to get towards net-zero. I really do believe that Orkney can be a trailblazer.

“But it’s not all about the present and future. Skara Brae, a 5000-years-old Neolithic village, is an incredibly important tourist destination, not just in Orkney, but a World Heritage Site.

“I look forward to seeing how, with the help of UK Government funding, experts will develop this as a destination both to make it more sustainable and cope with hopefully ever-increasing numbers as tourism returns after the pandemic.

Treasured Islands: Orkney is voted Scotland’s best island

Orkney, with its neolithic sites and panoramic views, has been named the best Scottish island, according to a survey from Which?.

While Scotland’s waters are home to approximately 800 islands, Which? Travel readers rated only 14, highlighting how undiscovered and uninhabited many of them still are. And of the 14 that received enough visitors to be ranked in the survey, 10 received an impressive visitor score of 80 per cent or more.

Orkney – with its 70 or so islands off the northeastern coast of the country – took the top spot in the table with visitors awarding it a score of 88 per cent.

The island was the only one in the survey to receive five stars for its tourist attractions, with visitors speaking highly of its many prehistoric sites and archaeology – some of the most frequently cited highlights included the Italian Church, Skara Brae, and the “spectacular” Ring of Brodgar.

Orkney was also praised for its “beautiful” scenery and friendly locals, while others cited its remoteness as its main attraction – one reader was particularly impressed by the “miles and miles of secluded sandy beaches with no-one in sight”.

In second place was Shetland, with a score of 86 per cent. Of its 100 or so islands, only 16 are inhabited, which could go some way to explaining its five-star rating for peace and quiet.

This, combined with the fact it is closer to the Arctic Circle than it is to London, might lead some to think it could be difficult to reach – but the island was given four stars for ease of travel. It also received four stars for scenery, tourist attractions and shopping, meaning most travellers will be well catered to.

Harris, Islay and Mull each received a visitor score of 85 per cent, putting them in joint third place. 

Harris received five stars for both its beaches and its scenery, as well as for peace and quiet, making it the perfect destination for anyone looking to escape to the great outdoors. Visitors can also head to Tarbert where they can buy their own Harris tweed, handwoven from local wool and reflecting the colours of the landscape, for a memento to remember the stunning views by.

Islay, known for its distillery tours and whisky tasting, also received five stars for peace and quiet, as well as four stars for its food and drink – not just for its whisky though, with fishing another mainstay of the island, meaning visitors can enjoy fresh seafood or fish and chips from many of the island’s restaurants.

While Mull only scored three stars for tourist attractions, food and drink, and shopping, its main attraction is its five-star scenery, made up of white-sand bays fringed with wildflower-rich grassland, and pink granite skerries scattered across the sea.

Visitors can soak up the view from the top of Ben More, Mull’s only Munro, head to Tobermory with its picturesque painted houses, or visit one of the island’s imposing castles.

Only one island in the survey received a score that dipped below 70 per cent, largely down to it being seen as a stepping stone between North and South Uist. Benbecula received a visitor score of 67 per cent, but still received four stars for its beaches and its peace and quiet. 

While it only received three stars for scenery, visitors still spoke warmly of its beaches and landscape, with its wildlife and birdwatching being praised by a number of those in the survey.

Many of Scotland’s islands, including Orkney, are currently under Level 1 coronavirus restrictions. This means visitors can freely travel to the islands (unless they are in a Level 3 area in Scotland, or under other tiered restrictions across the rest of the UK). 

Almost all hospitality, shopping, visitor attractions and holiday accommodation are allowed to open and operate under Level 1 restrictions. However, anyone planning to visit one of the islands should check the restrictions in place at the time they are due to travel, and only book with a provider that will allow them to rebook or cancel for a refund if they cannot travel as a result of government restrictions.

The Scottish government is also encouraging anyone planning on travelling to one of Scotland’s islands to take a coronavirus test before they do to reduce the risk of the virus being brought into island communities.

Visitors are recommended to get tested three days before travelling and then again on the day of departure.

Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said: “After more than a year of restrictions that have seen most of us confined to our homes, many of us will be craving a holiday featuring beautiful scenery, grand landscapes, and the peace and quiet to soak it all in. The Scottish islands have all of this in abundance, making many of them a brilliant choice for a UK holiday this summer.

“You’ll need to pack for all seasons, and be prepared for a bit of travelling to get there – but when you do, you’ll be glad you made the effort. Just be sure to book with an accommodation provider that will allow you to freely change or cancel your booking at short notice, should coronavirus restrictions change and prevent you from travelling as planned.”