diff --git a/.upgradenotes/MDL-79574-2025123010115375.yml b/.upgradenotes/MDL-79574-2025123010115375.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4bb04444452
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.upgradenotes/MDL-79574-2025123010115375.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+issueNumber: MDL-79574
+notes:
+  core:
+    - message: >-
+        The `\core\persistent::get_records(...)` class method now returns
+        instances keyed by record ID
+      type: changed
diff --git a/public/lib/classes/persistent.php b/public/lib/classes/persistent.php
index 5ebe0076055..86c07747533 100644
--- a/public/lib/classes/persistent.php
+++ b/public/lib/classes/persistent.php
@@ -842,11 +842,11 @@ abstract class persistent {
         }
 
         $records = $DB->get_records(static::TABLE, $filters, $orderby, '*', $skip, $limit);
-        $instances = array();
 
-        foreach ($records as $record) {
-            $newrecord = new static(0, $record);
-            array_push($instances, $newrecord);
+        // We return class instances.
+        $instances = [];
+        foreach ($records as $key => $record) {
+            $instances[$key] = new static(0, $record);
         }
         return $instances;
     }
@@ -883,11 +883,10 @@ abstract class persistent {
         $records = $DB->get_records_select(static::TABLE, $select, $params, $sort, $fields, $limitfrom, $limitnum);
 
         // We return class instances.
-        $instances = array();
+        $instances = [];
         foreach ($records as $key => $record) {
             $instances[$key] = new static(0, $record);
         }
-
         return $instances;
 
     }