Glasgow University's principal has hailed the exam results announcement as an "opportunity [for] even more Scottish-domiciled students to [study at] the University of Glasgow".

He adds that "quality education is one of the most powerful tools at society’s disposal as a route out of poverty, and at a time when many avenues are being closed off to our young people, this is yet another timely demonstration of the value of higher education".

Prof Muscatelli says universities can play an essential role in the coronavirus recovery - which should be education-led.

Image source, David Biggart

Olivia Biggart, a Motherwell student whose dream of becoming a doctor was shattered by downgraded results, says she is "over the moon" she will now get her five As for her Highers, but thinks John Swinney "didn't have many options".

The 16-year-old believed she was downgraded because her school is in a deprived area.

She told the BBC she cheered at John Swinney's announcement candidates estimated grades would replace those awarded last week.

She will now be able to apply for medical school in October.

The i's education reporter says the issue of fairness will "cut in multiple directions".

Will Hazell highlights issues of potential unfairness to future (and previous) years, as well as different standards among teachers.

Lauren Steele, 16, from East Kilbride, wrote to John Swinney criticising how the SQA moderated this year's results. She was one of the many pupils who had their results downgraded from their teacher's predictions.

The education secretary read out her name in parliament referencing the pupils who had influenced his change in direction.

Image source, Lauren Steele

Lauren said she didn't expect to hear her name when she was watching the television at home but said she was "really glad and grateful" that teacher estimates would now be used.

"Everyone is just so relieved. I think a lot of people thought 'There's no point making a stand, the government won't do anything'.

"I was one of the few people who did think we need to do something. I just felt that something needed to be done.

"If it wasn't for the online petitions, the letters, the emails then this wouldn't have happened. I'm feeling so much better now".

Read more about Lauren's story here.

Education Secretary John Swinney told the Scottish Parliament that downgraded results are to be scrapped and qualifications will be based on the initial teacher judgement.

Mr Swinney apologised to the 75,000 young people whose estimated mark was reduced by the SQA.

He said that the downgraded awards risked ‘young people, particularly from working class backgrounds losing faith in education.

As a result:

• Where a teacher estimate was adjusted down by the SQA, candidates will receive the grade the teacher awarded
• Candidates whose entries were adjusted up by the SQA will retain the higher grade
• The SQA will inform schools of the revised results by Friday 21 August for schools to tell pupils. New certificates will be issued in due course.
• The SQA will provide new grades to UCAS and other college and university admissions bodies, and the Scottish government will ensure enough places at colleges and universities so that all places awarded to young people can be taken up

Education journalist Sarah Cunnane says John Swinney's move is "huge" - and points out it could have implications outside Scotland.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says Mr Swinney has embraced a solution that he trashed last week.

Mr Rennie says the education secretary told students the historical performance of their school would not affect their results and he refused to take any other course.

Mr Rennie insists the education secretary had plenty of time to fix the problem, but he refused to do so.

"Does John Swinney not understand he is now part of the problem, not the solution?" Mr Rennie says.

The education secretary says he faced an "inconceivable" situation and he respected the independence of the exam body, the SQA, in designing a scheme to ensure students got results.

He said he had now remedied the concerns that were put to him about that method of awarding grades.

Mr Greer asks when Mr Swinney became aware of the number of grades lowered by moderation and the disproportionate number lowered in working-class communities.

The Scottish Greens education spokesperson also asks why he did not act at that point and asks if he regrets not publishing the methodology.

The education secretary says he became aware of the moderation outcomes on Thursday, before the results came out.

Mr Swinney says he could not change the distribution of awards by that stage and stresses the SQA is an independent body.

He adds that the methodology is published on awards day and he argues the SQA could not engage with all education centres equally. That is why it could not do so, he says.

Scottish Greens education spokesperson Ross Greer congratulates the pupils and teachers without whose campaigning this would not have happened.

Mr Greer also welcomes the fact the government has adopted all four of his party's proposals to resolve this situation.

Here's a reminder of what they were:

• restoring teacher estimates for all downgrades
• leaving all upgrades alone
• independent review of how we ended up with 125,000 downgrades
• wider review of exam systems and best way to assess student performance

Labour's Iain Gray says Mr Swinney's "humiliating climb-down" was very welcome.

He says it was a victory for fairness, common sense and the young people who refused to take this injustice lying down.

Mr Gray asks Mr Swinney if he will take full responsibility and resign.

The education secretary says he takes responsibility for his actions which he has "fixed" and explained matters to parliament.

"I would simply point out to Iain Gray that the methodology being used here is being used in countless jurisdictions around the world," he says.

"What we have recognised here is that the application of that methodology has created an injustice and an unfairness to young people and I have come to parliament to remedy it."

Mr Greene asks who signed of the adoption off this methodology and asks why it was pursued by his government.

The Scottish Conservative education spokesman also asks how Mr Swinney will ensure those eligible for a university place will get one.

Finally he welcomes a short-term inquiry into "this fiasco" and calls for the publication of the wider OECD review into Scottish education to be brought forward.

Image source, Reuters

Mr Swinney says: "The pass rate in the most deprived communities increased at a faster rate than in the least deprived communities."

The education secretary explains he did not prescribe to the SQA how standards were to be maintained via its methodology.

He adds: "Decisions have to be taken on examination standards by an independent body."

The SQA developed the methodology to maintain standards, he reiterates.

Mr Swinney says in terms of eligibility for university places, more young people will be able to take them up subsequent to his announcement.

The OECD review will take place as soon as is possible given travel restrictions imposed because of the pandemic.

Tory MSP Jamie Greene says the cabinet secretary's statement is 18 pages long and adds it is "the longest resignation speech in history, minus the resignation".

The Scottish Conservative education spokesman says the exam grade system had a methodology clouded in secrecy and a lack of transparency and engagement.

He claims teachers were ignored and there was "a postcode lottery which disgracefully penalised those from our toughest communities the most".

The Tory MSP argues this is a "humiliating u-turn".

Mr Swinney ends by repeating his apology to young people.

"Covid has placed, at times, unbearable pressures on us all and I wish our learners well in building on the achievements they have justifiably been rewarded in these most difficult of days," he says.

The education secretary says there is much to be learned form what has happened this year.

He says it has sparked a debate about how to transform the Scottish approach to assessment and qualifications.

"While we expect next year's exams to go ahead, we have to put in place the right plans to make sure we don't find ourselves in this situation again."

The SQA will start a rapid consultation on this next week.

Mr Swinney also announces an independent review of what happened this year. He wants a report within five weeks.

Image source, SQA

Mr Swinney said there was no longer the need for the extended appeals process that had been put in place.

"There remains the need for the option of an appeal in some circumstances and detail on this will be set out by the end of the week," he says.

Image source, Getty Images

Mr Swinney says a revised statistical analysis of this year's results will be available by the end of August.

He summarises as:

• A National 5 pass rate of 88% - up 10.7 percentage points on 2019
• A Higher pass rate of 89.2% - up 14.4 percentage points on 2019
• An Advanced Higher pass rate of 93.1% - up 13.7 percentage points higher than last year