In the lead up to S4-S6 Qualifications Scotland Exams: some advance information

In the lead up to the Qualifications Scotland examinations this is a brief overview of relevant timelines and information for parents/carers and pupils. 

Between now and Easter holidays

Senior pupils will be completing their Qualifications Scotland subject course content and any internal assessments/assignments still required. A final Qualifications Scotland estimate grade will be submitted for each subject to Qualifications Scotland by the Easter holidays. The Estimate grade for each subject will be communicated to your child by their class teacher before the Easter holidays.

Your child will know any subject specific deadline dates, which will have been communicated to them in class and via subject TEAMS. You can also see deadlines on the school website here: Key Dates: Senior Phase National Qualification Subjects Internal Assessment Calendar 2025.2026 - Linlithgow Academy

Your child will know what is required to achieve the best possible grade in each subject via learning conversations that will have and will continue to take place. As well as in class revision there is obviously an expectation that pupils are now independently revising at home with a study plan in place. Many subjects offer study sessions after school or at lunchtime for pupils to access. Pupils should check with departments about this.  Pupils also have access to 'Achieve' and Scholar, which are revision tools via their Glow tile. Details on study skills and the national study support offer can all be accessed on this link. These pages will be updated as required: https://linlithgowacademy.westlothian.org.uk/article/74084/Assessment- Supported-Study-SQA update

Easter holiday Study Support offer

We will be running an Easter holiday Study Support offer which pupils can sign up for. Subject teachers volunteer to offer study slots during this holiday period. More detail on this soon, however please note these sessions have maximum numbers and may run concurrently with other subject offers as teachers determine the time slots that they can make. Not all subjects and levels are likely to be offered.

Publication of individual Qualifications Scotland timetables

Qualifications Scotland Examination dates are already circulated so pupils will already know what day each of their examinations are on. You can see this information here: Qualification Scotland Examination Diet 2026 and other relevant information - Linlithgow Academy

However, school exam times on the designated day may alter slightly from the national publication. As such, every pupil will receive their own personalised timetable which will indicate each exam they are sitting, the actual times, exam location and seat number. This information will be shared on Tuesday 24^th March at a Qualifications Scotland Assembly (week before Easter holidays). This will also involve a presentation from the Qualifications Scotland Chief Invigilator who will give advice and information about the exam arrangements and protocols during the exam period.

Study Leave

Study Leave for the upcoming Qualifications Scotland exam diet for session 2025. 2026 will commence from end of day Friday 17th April with latest return to school being Monday 1st June.           This will involve all S4-S6 pupils.

As with previous years, during this exam diet period our Senior Phase pupils will be given time to study for and sit their SQA examinations, complete national courses and awards as well as being offered a programme of in-school learning or revision opportunities. This in-school programme may vary for each learner. In- school learning and revision opportunities during this study leave period, is dependent on each individual's exam diet but may include subject immersion days, opportunities to meet formally or informally with class teachers, targeted programmes of additional support, career related activities or opportunities to participate in other courses. Learners will receive more information about the opportunities open to them during the exam diet over the coming weeks.

Immersion days

In most but not all cases, the day before each examination there will be a formal opportunity for pupils to come into school between p1-p3 for some 'last minute' advice/support from subject teachers. Pupils can sign up for this opportunity. More detail and how to sign up will be published in due course.

We hope this summary letter gives you a clear overview of the plans in place between now and the examination diet. More detail on some of these options will be sent as required over the coming weeks.