An investigation has been launched after an entire class of students failed a Higher course.

All 20 students on Inverness College UHI’s media course received No Award grades when their results came back earlier this week.

The college, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, has launched an internal review into the results and requested the SQA also conducts an investigation.

Diane Rawlinson, principal and chief executive at Inverness College UHI, said: “At Inverness College UHI we take exam results and student success very seriously.

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“As we do every year, we are undertaking a review of all published results, comparing them against those projected for each student.

“In the case of this particular course, the usual quality assurance processes were in place and the awarding body verifier recently reported ‘significant strengths in the delivery and management of this award’ and confirmed that ‘assessment judgements were consistent with the national standards set’.”

The SQA said it was satisfied the assessment was carried out correctly.

A spokesman said: “We are happy that the 2016 Higher media assessment performed as intended and it provided candidates with the opportunity to show their understanding of the subject.

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“Many candidates performed strongly and we saw a slight increase in the A-C attainment rate compared to the same qualification last year.

“It was designed in line with past and exemplar papers and according to our course and assessment specifications.”

It later emerged that almost the same situation had happened to students in the same class last year, with just one student passing.

Louise Duncan was one of the students who received a No Award grade.

She told STV News: “It was a shock, as I’d worked very hard.

“Over the course I was having to find cameras, having to organise times, find people to volunteer to help. It was overwhelming to realise that this was all for nothing.”

Her father Rory added: “When we found out that the same thing had happened last year, it does point to the fact that there is something serious going on – perhaps in the quality of teaching or the way the course is delivered and prepared in order for it to be externally marked.”