Record numbers pass their Highers

More than 35,300 people received their school and college results a day early yesterday by e-mail and text message and the remainder of a record 160,745 candidates across Scotland will receive certificates through the post today.

Entries for qualifications at all levels rose this year, with the exception of Standard grade which is to be replaced.

Overall results remained stable with a small 0.4 per cent rise in those passing Highers to 74.6 per cent. Standard grade pass rates stayed the same as last year at 98.5 per cent and the Advanced Higher was slightly down, by 0.3 per cent, with 77.5 per cent passing.

An additional 4.7 per cent of candidates took Higher exams, and 4.8 per cent at Advanced Higher, this year compared with 2009.

However, the proportion receiving an A at Higher level dropped slightly from 25 per cent to 24 per cent.

Alan Munro, vice-president of Scotland's biggest teaching union the EIS, said the results proved the stability of the Scottish exams system.

Congratulating pupils and teachers he said: "The very slight fluctuation from year to year is to be expected and points to the robustness of our exam system."

This was the first year pupils received results for the new Scottish Baccalaureates with 106 of 138 candidates passing - a pass rate of 76.8 per cent.

Just 19 took the new qualification in languages, with the remainder taking the science version. It was also the first year of Highers and Advanced Highers in Chinese with 39 people taking the exams.

Fears this could be the most competitive year ever for a university place look set to be eased with recent figures from university admissions service, UCAS, saying applications were only up about 5 per cent.

Michael Russell, education secretary, congratulated students saying the results confirmed the strength of the Scottish education system.

However, Liz Smith, the Tory schools spokeswoman, called for more focus on literacy and numeracy texts in primary. "Scottish Conservatives want more rigorous testing of basic skills in reading, writing and arithmetic by the time a pupil reaches the end of primary 7," she said.

And Des McNulty, Labour education spokesman said it was time for more details on the incoming National exams which will replace Standard grades.

Straight-A students plain delighted

AN ABERDEEN teenager has scored straight-A grades for the third year in a row.

Emily Powell, 17, was the youngest in her class at independent Albyn School, but took top grades in Advanced Highers this year after achieving As in her Highers and Standard grades.

She said: "I didn't really start properly studying until exam leave in March.

"I think I left it later than everyone else in the class, but everyone just takes the time that they need."

Miss Powell from Westhill, outside Aberdeen, hopes to become a surgeon with her As in Chemistry, Biology, Maths and Applied Maths.

She plans to take a year out in France, before going to University College in London.

Ellie Buchan, 17, from the Cults area of Aberdeen, in fifth year, managed five straight As in her Highers.

She said: "I'm very happy. I can't believe I've managed it, but I'm very happy.

"I was a bit worried when I first came out of the exam hall, but then I suppose everyone is."

Nicholas Brady, 16, from Clarkston in Glasgow is celebrating two years of straight As.

After working extra hard to beat his predicted B grade for English, he hopes to get a job as a television journalist. He said: "I'm still in shock - there was a lot of jumping and cheering when I found out."

His parents Joyce and John are taking their son to see comedian Michael McIntyre in Edinburgh on Friday as a reward.

He is to stay on at Williamwood High School for another year to do two Advanced Highers in French and modern studies and a Higher in media studies.

Then he hopes to go to Glasgow University to do a degree in film and television studies.

"I'm ecstatic because you need two As and two Bs minimum to get on that course," he said. "I'm almost definitely in."

Baccalaureates

THE new Scottish Baccalaureates, taken by 138 candidates, comprise a Higher and two Advanced Highers in relevant subjects, plus an interdisciplinary project.

Criticisms emerged earlier this year at the low uptake of the qualifications, which the SNP government promised to introduce in their 2007 election manifesto.

They hoped it would encourage uptake in the subjects and give more meaning to sixth year for the brightest pupils.