Exams helpline gears up for results day with visit from Education Secretary

The Education Secretary will visit the national exam results helpline centre ahead of its busiest day of the year.

Michael Russell will meet advisers who will offer support when more than 160,000 young people across the country receive their results on Tuesday.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) runs a helpline where staff discuss the range of options available with young people and their parents.

The free number will be live from 8am on results day.

Damien Yeates, SDS chief executive, said: "It's there to give advice and support to students and their parents whether they are thinking about going to college or university, getting a job or a modern apprenticeship.

"As always our advice is not to panic - making the call is the vital first move in finding out what options are available. Often parents or carers call on behalf of their sons and daughters and that can enable family discussions on the best way ahead.

"The helpline is about finding the right path for the individual and we have a wide range of services to help people identify and build successful careers."

The 0808 100 8000 helpline will be open from 8am until 8pm on August 7 and 8, then from 9am until 5pm until August 15.

A Facebook page will also be launched this year offering answers to common problems from those receiving their qualifications.

On Friday, it emerged a computer error had allowed some pupils access to their exam results almost a week early.

Students logging into the University of St Andrews website on Wednesday were able to see how they had performed despite Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) results not due until August 7.

Schools, universities and colleges receive results of Highers and Advanced Highers a week before pupils but the error occurred when the university was uploading the results on to its website.

The mistake was brought to the attention of the university by a parent. During the 12 hours the portal where the results were accessed was open, 65 pupils saw their results.

STV News will be hosting a live careers advice webchat between 11am and 1pm on Tuesday.

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