Celebrating the achievements of care-experienced learners
Tuesday 5 August 2025
Care-experienced young people are among the tens of thousands of learners across Scotland who today received their results from SQA. This includes young people who are currently, or have previously been in any form of care, including foster care, residential care, and kinship care.
SQA is a proud corporate parent, and has marked the achievements of these learners through a collaborative congratulatory video with messages from SQA staff, and charities Who Cares? Scotland and MCR Pathways.
In her video message to care-experienced learners, Joanne Lawrie, Equality & Diversity Manager at SQA said: “On behalf of everyone at SQA, it’s a privilege to say a huge well done to you this Results Day. Please be proud of all your hard work, and everything you have achieved, and remember that as dedicated Corporate Parents, we’re here to support you. We are delighted to be joined by our friends at Who Cares? Scotland and MCR Pathways in sharing our pride in you on this important day. Well done from us all.”
SQA is committed to supporting care-experienced learners. In the latest Corporate Parenting Plan, we’ve set out a range of actions to help achieve this, including improving staff training and awareness, working closely with partners, and making sure the voices of care-experienced people are heard and help shape our decisions.
We also work closely with charities Who Cares? Scotland and MCR Pathways to help care experienced young people fulfil their potential and enjoy positive futures. The team at Who Cares? Scotland provide insight to SQA about the lived experience of care experienced people, and SQA colleagues use their volunteering hours to be part of MCR Pathway’s school-based mentoring programme.
Melody Crumlin, Deputy CEO at MCR Pathways, commented: 'At MCR Pathways we are deeply proud of every young person receiving their qualification results today across Scotland.
'For the young people we support, we know that behind each result is a story of strength, courage and determination. We see your resilience, your potential and that vital spark that makes you who you are. On behalf of your mentors, pathways coordinators, and everyone at MCR Pathways, we want you to know how much you are seen, heard, valued and believed in. You matter deeply, not just today, but every day, and are at the heart of our very being as an organisation.
'This is a moment to celebrate not only your achievements, but to reflect on the journey you have taken to get here. It’s also very important to remember that no matter what today brings in terms of your results, there will always be a path open to realising your potential. Together, we’re not simply building pathways, we’re building futures. Until everyone has someone, we'll keep standing beside you, believing in you, championing you, and walking with you into a future full of promise.'
Louise Hunter, Chief Executive at Who Cares? Scotland said: 'On behalf of Who Cares? Scotland, I just want to say a huge congratulations for what you’ve achieved today. No matter what the result, what you’ve achieved is absolutely incredible and I hope you’re really proud of yourselves because everyone at Who Cares? Scotland is really proud of you. Irrespective of that you do next, whether it’s staying on in education, or moving elsewhere, Who Cares? Scotland will always be there to support every care experienced person in Scotland.'
If you are care-experienced, and would like to talk though your results with anyone from Who Cares? Scotland, you can call them on 0330 107 7540, email help@whocaresscotland.org, or find more information on their website.
If you would like to contact MCR Pathways, you can call them on 0141 221 0200, email info@mcrpathways.org, or find more information on their website.
You can contact SQA’s Candidate Advice Line on 0345 279 1000 which will be open from 8am – 6pm on Tuesday 5 August, then from 8:30am – 5pm on Wednesday 6 August to Friday 8 August.