Hundreds of school pupils across the Stewartry are set to have their exam results upgraded.
There was widespread anger after many students had their predicted results downgraded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority last week.
However, pressure from both pupils and political opponents forced Education Minister John Swinney into a U-turn.
He announced on Tuesday that grades would be based solely on teachers’ estimates.
The move was welcomed by Kirkcudbright Academy Parent Council chairman Liz Kettle.
She said: “I think the decision is the right one and I’m sure many parents will be pleased.
“Teachers spent four weeks making sure they had got the grades absolutely right. Of the four teachers I spoke to between the first and second announcement they said there was no logic to the downgrading.
“I admire them admitting they made a mistake. I think the SQA has applied a model as they would in a normal year but it was never going to be a normal year.”
Dalbeattie Parent Council chairman Helen Game added: “It’s good news. There were some happy parents but also some unhappy parents.
“I know there were pupils who had done well but there were also ones who hadn’t and you would have expected them to. If they’d sat the exam then they’d have done well so it was a bit of a kick in the teeth for them.
“It also undermined the teachers and dented their confidence to be told they were wrong so it’s good news.”
The exams were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, teachers gave estimated grades based on course work and prelims.
These results were then “moderated” by the SQA, which also took into account past performance of schools.
The exams body adjusted a quarter of the submissions for the country’s 138,000 students, and of that number more than 90 per cent were downgraded.
On Tuesday, Mr Swinney apologised to the pupils affected and said they would now receive the grade originally awarded by their teacher.
The minority who saw their entries adjusted up will keep the higher grade.
MSP Colin Smyth, said: “The restoration of pupils’ achievement based on the professional judgement of teachers who know them is a victory for fairness, for common sense and above all for those young people who refused to take this injustice lying down.”
