SMS blunder gives Scottish students early results

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An inquiry is to look into how a mistake led to almost 30,000 Scottish pupils being sent exam results to their mobiles a day early.

Results for Higher and Standard Grade exams were due to come out today, but what opposition politicians labelled a “serious mistake” led to thousands of students receiving their results via text before others.

The person responsible should re-sit their IT exams.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) apologised for any “additional stress” which the blunder may have caused.

“SQA is conducting an urgent inquiry with the external contractor, AQL, which issues the texts on behalf of SQA, in order to understand how this has happened,” Janet Brown, chief executive (CEO) of SQA.

“We do however want to reassure candidates and their parents that no candidate will have been given early advantage. We have acted swiftly to ensure that candidates who have been sent texts will receive the same level of support as all of our candidates.”

SQA was forced to open its Candidate Advice line early as a result of the mistake, whilst Skills Development Scotland had to do the same with its helpline.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, slammed those responsible for the snafu, saying it was “extremely unprofessional and will create a great deal of anxiety and stress for pupils already anxious and stressed,” the BBC reported.

"The person responsible should re-sit their IT exams."

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