More pupils making the grade as results improve yet again

Published on Wednesday 3 August 2011 13:00

Exam results in the Capital have continued to improve, with many pupils left celebrating a day early.

As thousands of pupils across the city were anxiously awaiting their results by post this morning, those who signed up to have their results sent by text message received them 24 hours early by mistake.

Early indications show that Standard Grade results in Edinburgh have improved on last year, and the pupils who sat Highers and Advanced Highers also out-performed last year's results.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) confirmed that every pupil who opted to have their grades texted to them had been sent them yesterday instead of today and an investigation into the blunder has been launched.

Josh Platt, from Boroughmuir High, was one of the pupils who received his results yesterday at 12.30pm.

The 17-year-old received five As, in German, maths, modern studies, history and English.

Josh said: "It was a bit of a shock. I was expecting to have a nervous night thinking about getting them the next morning.

"It was a nice surprise, but it's a bit of a strange situation because a lot of my friends haven't got theirs yet."

Janet Brown, chief executive of the SQA, apologised for the blunder but stressed that no candidate would be given "early advantage" as a result.

Across Edinburgh's secondary and special schools, 9620 pupils received 45,489 results today, with awards gained in a range of 71 different subjects from accounting to woodwork.

A total of 92 per cent of pupils in Edinburgh achieved five or more Standard Grades while 93 per cent achieved a pass in English and maths at Foundation level or better.

The number of pupils gaining one or more Higher by the end of sixth year has also increased since 2010, continuing a two-year improving trend, while 40 per cent achieved more than three Highers and 28 per cent more than five.

Twenty per cent of pupils achieved one Advanced Higher, which is also an improvement on last year. By the end of fifth year, 47 per cent of pupils achieved one or more Highers, which is the same as last year.

The proportion of S5 pupils achieving three or more Highers dropped from 29 per cent to 28 per cent, while those gaining five or more stayed the same at 14 per cent.

City education leader Councillor Marilyne MacLaren said: "The initial analysis of the results shows that this has been another good year for Edinburgh candidates and I am delighted at all their successes. Results by the end of fourth year are especially encouraging and we are particularly delighted to note the improved results for S4 pupils gaining five or more awards at levels three and four.

"I congratulate all our teaching staff on their commitment."Our pupils should be very proud of themselves too."

Nationally, pass rates have improved, particularly at Advanced Higher and Intermediate 1 levels.