FOI20/21 158 SQA Certificates

Date published: 15/12/2020

I was looking into the topic of SQA certificates

1  How many students sat exams in 2019?
2  How many students sat exams in 2018?
3  How many students sat exams in 2017?
4  I would like to know the number of SQA certificates that have been reported as delivered in 2019?
5  I would like to know the number of SQA certificates that have been reported as delivered in 2020?
6  The number of enquiries about replacement certificates in 2019 and 2020?
7  How much money has the SQA made from replacement certificate orders in 2019?
8  How much money has the SQA made from replacement certificate orders in 2020 so far?

1.  How many students sat exams in 2019?   SQA publishes entries and attainment by subject and level on our website and individual candidates can be entered for several subjects.  The figure provided covers the number of candidate certificates produced. This figure is for National Qualifications only and includes non-exam-based certification - 135,212

2  How many students sat exams in 2018?   As above the figure provided covers the number of candidate certificates produced.  This figure is for National Qualifications only and includes non-exam-based certification - 136,102

3  How many students sat exams in 2017?   As above the figure provided covers the number of candidate certificates produced.  This figure is for National Qualifications only and includes non-exam-based certification - 138,355

4 and 5  I would like to know the number of SQA certificates that have been reported as delivered in 2019 and 2020?  All certificates are sent out via 1st or 2nd class via Royal Mail but we have no functionality to report how many are actually delivered.   Section 17 of FOISA provides that where an authority does not hold information requested then it should notify the requester to that effect.

6  The number of enquiries about replacement certificates in 2019 and 2020?  SQA offers a replacement certificate service.   Information about this service can be obtained here.  This service covers replacement certificates, credit value statements and authentication of certificates and qualifications.   Enquiries to this service can be for qualifications gained from 1960 onwards where certificates have been lost or misplaced by the candidate eg when moving house or returning to work after a prolonged absence.   Please note the figures given below cover all aspects of this service as we have no way of separating out requests for credit value statements and authentications from replacement certificates.

In 2019 we had 7617 enquiries to the service

In 2020 we have had 4687 enquiries (up to 07 December) - please note this figure for 2020 is lower than normal as SQA was unable to offer this service between the end of March and July due to the COVID 19 pandemic.

7 and 8  How much money has the SQA made from replacement certificate orders in 2019 and 2020 to date?  The annual income from the replacement certificate service is reported annually in our Annual Report and Accounts which is subject to External Audit. Given the timing of your request we have included income received for the financial year 2020-21 covering the period from 1 April to 7 December 2020.

Year ended 31 March 2020 - £265,000

For financial year 20/21 to date (up to O7 December)  - £67,709