YOUNG people from Beath and Lochgelly High Schools will be eagerly awaiting their results on Tuesday and can access dedicated results support when Skills Development Scotland’s (SDS) Results Helpline opens.

The free helpline from Scotland’s career service offers advice, information and guidance for young people and their parents and carers from 8am on results day. The number to call is 0808 100 8000.

The local pupils will receive their National, Higher and Advanced Higher results next week and it will be a tense time waiting to see what has been achieved.

Scottish Education Secretary, John Swinney said: “Young people and their families have shown tremendous resilience in coping with the many challenges of the coronavirus pandemic and will naturally be anxious about the potential impact on results.

“You may achieve the results you worked so hard for, but if you miss out on the grades you were hoping for, there is still a huge variety of options available to you. Skills Development Scotland advisers will provide expert advice to help all pupils understand their future education and career choices.”

James Russell, SDS Director of Career Information, Advice & Guidance Operations, said: “This year is unlike any other and young people receiving results and their families may be feeling more anxious which is understandable. This is the point when their work and efforts are recognised, our advice and support is available and our message is if your results aren’t what you expected, don’t worry, you have lots of options.

“Our careers advisers are here to help you and your parents and carers with information on all the options and opportunities on offer.”

The Results Helpline will be open on August 4 and 5 from 8am to 8pm, August 6 and 7 from 9am-5pm and August 10 to 12 from 9am-5pm.

SDS’s expert careers advisers can discuss options and next steps such as course vacancies at UK colleges and universities, Confirmation and Clearing, Modern, Foundation and Graduate Apprenticeships and jobs or volunteering.

James added: “We’ll also have advisers available through social media to answer queries if you find it easier to get in touch via direct messaging.”

SDS’s Fife-based careers adviser, Karen Warwick, said: “Young people receiving their results have had a very different experience this year. The Helpline and their school careers advisers are there to help them, and their parents and carers who make around a third of the calls to the Helpline, to find out about all of options and opportunities available to them.”

This is Karen’s fifth time volunteering for the Results Helpline. She is based in SDS’s Dunfermline centre in East Port and works with pupils at Beath High School and Woodmill High School.

To get in touch with the SDS Results Helpline via social media go to My World of Work on Facebook at facebook.com/myworldofwork or Twitter at twitter.com/mywowscotland

Results information and advice is also available on Scotland’s careers website, My World of Work at myworldofwork.co.uk which has practical help and links to UCAS, SAAS, Young Scot and the SQA.

For pupils going into 5th and 6th year this August, there’s still time to choose a Foundation Apprenticeship alongside Nationals and Highers. To find out what’s available in your area go to apprenticeships.scot or speak to your SDS careers adviser.

Completing a Foundation Apprenticeship leads to a qualification at the same level of learning as a Higher (SCQF6). Assessment happens throughout the year.