Record number of pupils passing Highers

Published on Tuesday 4 August 2009 22:04

SCOTLAND'S teenagers have achieved the best-ever pass rate in the history of the Higher qualification.

About 160,000 youngsters will receive their exam results today, through the post, by text or online.

The results, published by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), show 74.2 per cent passed their Highers – the highest proportion since the qualification was introduced. Last year, the figure was 73.4 per cent.

This year also sees the highest number of Higher exams taken for 20 years, with 167,635 sat by Scottish students.

The record-breaking results could attract accusations of exams being dumbed down; however, teachers and the SQA put the performance down to hard-working pupils.

To Fiona MacLeod's analysis of this story go here

SQA chief executive Dr Janet Brown said: "Individual results will determine what the future will hold for individual candidates, and for the vast majority that future is bright.

"The results which we publish today underline significant achievement in a stable examination system.

"It is a system which continues to be widely respected and highly regarded, facts most recently highlighted by the continuing high value which is placed on our qualifications by the independent UCAS (university admissions] tariff system."

To read Peter Wright's analysis of this story go here

Maths and English remained strong performers at Higher level, although maths dipped slightly from a pass rate of 71.6 per cent in 2008 to 69.7 per cent this year. The pass rate in English rose slightly, from 68.3 per cent to 68.9 per cent.

Language results were generally good, with the Higher German pass rate up from 74.2 per cent to 87.4 per cent. Spanish was also up, from 85.8 per cent to 88.1 per cent, but French fell from 85.5 per cent to 82.4 per cent.

There was a good performance in the sciences, despite recent studies suggesting primary school pupils were not keen to take the subject.

Higher physics saw a rise in the pass rate from 74.1 per cent to 76 per cent, while biology rose slightly, from 70.3 per cent to 70.8 per cent. However, chemistry saw a drop from 77.3 per cent to 75.8 per cent.

Standard grade passes overall also went up slightly, from 98 per cent to 98.5 per cent.

Overall, the number of exams taken dropped from 776,161 last year to 767,936, mostly due to a fall in the number of Standard grades taken.

This year, 358,459 Standard grades were sat, but the figure has been dropping for several years, from a high of 415,845 in 2006.

Their increasing unpopularity and loss of credibility has already led to the Scottish Government announcing plans to replace them with new qualifications, called Nationals, from 2013.

One downside of the strong Higher results is that school leavers face a tough fight for a university place.

Better results at Higher mean more pupils will have achieved the grades necessary to take up a conditional place, leaving large numbers to fight for a place through the clearing system, which matches up applicants to university vacancies.

Ken Cunningham, general secretary of School Leavers Scotland, which represents secondary heads, agreed it would be a tough year. He said: "It is gratifying to see so many youngsters have been successful.

"It is just a shame that a generation is showing its success at the same time the world is in a global recession. At least they will be amply qualified to make a go of it when the economy improves.

"It is a good news story at a time when education has been given a hard time this year. Standard are being maintained."

A spokesman for the EIS, Scotland's biggest teaching union described it as a "solid set of results".

He said: "Overall, these results show another year of great success for Scotland's pupils and for our education system, and we should all take part in celebrating that success.

"Scotland's pupils, and their parents and teachers, should be proud of the good results that our young people have achieved for themselves in their exams this year."

However, he agreed it was going to be a tough year.

He said: "With so many pupils gaining such good exam results, the competition for places at universities will be as intense as ever.

"While many pupils will gain their desired places due to their excellent results, those who do not gain their first-choice place should not panic."

Tory schools spokeswoman Liz Smith repeated her call for "more rigorous" literacy and numeracy testing in P7.

"There are still concerns from employers, colleges and universities that the exam system is not consistent with their demands," she said.

"In March, we found out only 30 per cent of Scottish S2 pupils are reaching satisfactory standards in maths."

But education secretary Fiona Hyslop congratulated pupils.

She said: "I know the certificates received represent months of dedication and hard work by them and their teachers, combined with the support of parents and friends.

"These results clearly demonstrate that our young people have high ambitions and are achieving success. By continuing to support Scotland's reputation for skills and learning, today's results will help to make Scotland the place to do business even in these difficult economic times.

"For those who have not received the results they were hoping for, don't panic. There is comprehensive advice and support out there to guide you through the many options available that can help achieve your goals."

Ms Hyslop helped launch a helpline staffed by more than 80 fully trained advisers, which will provide students and parents with advice and information about higher education choices and next steps.

Now in its 17th year, the helpline, run by Skills Development Scotland, will be open from 8am to 8pm today, and from 9am to 5pm between tomorrow and Friday, 28 August.

The helpline number is 0808 100 8000.