WIREDGOV

Candidates achieve record number of Higher passes.

Students across Scotland achieved a record 156,000 Higher passes this year – up 5.5 per cent on 2014.

Results certificates have been sent to 142,862 candidates sitting a wide range of qualifications – including new Highers for the first year and Nationals for the second year; and existing Access, Intermediates, Highers and Advanced Highers.

Figures released by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) show attainment is again high this year, with Higher English passes up 17.7 per cent to 27,902, and Higher modern languages passes increasing by 15.2 per cent to 7,419.

The pass rate for the new Maths Higher was 70.8 per cent, similar to that in previous years. The SQA awarding process continues to take into account the level of difficulty of the exam.

Advanced Higher passes have increased by 4.0 per cent to a record level of 18,899.

This year also saw significant shifts onto the new National Qualifications at other levels, as the process of transition into the new system continued. For example, there was a large increase in National 5 course entries, particularly among those taken beyond fourth year – with 229,870 A-C grades awarded. 

There has also been strong performance in qualifications related to wider skills for life and work, with attainment in Awards, National Certificates and National Progression Awards up 22.8 per cent, to 33,931.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela Constance said:

“This is another strong performance by Scotland’s young people. They have worked hard, and I congratulate each and every one of them, as well as the families and carers, and teachers and lecturers who have provided support. 

“Scotland has seen record numbers of Higher and Advanced Higher passes. Students are performing particularly well in English and in modern languages.

“Despite concerns about the new Higher Maths exam, it’s clear that the system worked, that candidates have been treated fairly, and that standards have been maintained. The checks and balances in place ensure that students who would have gained a particular grade in a qualification in any previous year will still have done so at the same grade this year. 

“This year we have already seen a record percentage of school leavers in employment, education or training. Today’s figures show that qualifications recognising life and work skills – such as Awards, National Certificates and National Progression Awards – are up a massive 22.8 per cent. This is very encouraging, as we support schools to do more to prepare our young people for the world of work.

“We now have a curriculum and assessment system designed to get the very best out of students and give them every possible chance of entering employment, training or further education.

“If you have not done as well as you had hoped or if you've done better than expected - help is on hand to discuss your future options by calling the exams results helpline on 0808 100 8000.”

Notes To Editors

This is the first year of the new Higher qualification, which has been introduced by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). This year they have been ‘dual-run’ with the existing Highers as part of the phased introduction of new qualifications under Curriculum for Excellence in the senior phase of school. This is the final year of the existing Highers.

It is also the second year of the new National 1 to 5 qualifications. They are also being ‘dual-run’, alongside the existing Access 1 to 3 and Intermediate 1 and 2; this is the final year of those qualifications.

This is the final year of the existing Advanced Highers. Next year will see the introduction of new Advanced Highers.

Learners who have taken any of these qualifications this year receive their results on Tuesday 4 August.

As the SQA has made clear, comparisons of National Qualifications attainment can be extremely complex. This is because the nature of the groups of candidates taking each qualification can differ significantly between last year and this, as the system gradually shifts onto the new qualifications. For example, last year 88.0% of National 5 candidates were S4 students; in 2015 this figure is only 56.3%.