Exam results 'will be delivered'

The exam results are to be delivered by post on Tuesday

School pupils have been assured their exam results will be delivered on time despite the ongoing Royal Mail strike.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has a contingency plan to use other couriers if the dispute threatens to delay the delivery of results.

About a fifth of the 150,000 candidates will be able to access their results on the internet from Monday.

The remainder are due to learn how they performed in their Standard and Higher Grade exams by post on Tuesday.

The results are also due to be delivered electronically to schools and colleges. The SQA said it may arrange for candidates to be able to see their grades in these centres.

A spokesman for the SQA said Royal Mail had always delivered the results on time in the past, and were confident they would be able to cope this year despite the industrial action.

We have been assured by Royal Mail that the exam results delivery will not be affected by official action SQA spokesman

He added: "We have been watching closely the developments in the Royal Mail dispute.

"We have been assured by them that the exam results delivery will not be affected by official action and they are closely observing the unofficial strikes.

"We at SQA have contingency plans in place which we will use if and when needed to ensure that all 150,000 candidates can know their results on time on Tuesday. We have been looking at alternative providers."

Royal Mail has been hit by a series of unauthorised wildcat strikes in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen in addition to official 24-hour walkouts by members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) over pay, pensions and future industry changes.

A Royal Mail spokeswoman said: "Royal Mail has robust contingency plans in place for the SQA contract. We are sure that postmen and women will not want to disrupt a service to young people across Scotland awaiting their results."