Comhairle congratulates SQA students
Young people across the Western Isles have been congratulated after receiving the results of National Qualifications undertaken earlier this year.
Pupils were all informed of their provisional awards in June with the results being notified last week acting as final confirmation.
A Comhairle spokesperson said: ‘In another year of challenge and disruption to qualifications caused by Covid-19, the Comhairle would like to recognise and congratulate the effort, commitment and achievement of all our young people, whatever the results received today.’
Across National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses, the rate of A-C passes achieved was 91.6%, from a total of 2,730 presentations. The equivalent rate of passes across Scotland for the same awards in the region of 88.7%.
After the cancellation of the 2021 exams, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) implemented an alternative model to determine awards for students that involved schools gathering a range of assessment evidence from course work, lesson activities and assessments. Teachers then made professional judgements based on the available evidence about the level of award to make. These judgements were based on detailed national guidance and were subject to numerous moderation and quality assurance checks before being notified to pupils and submitted to SQA.
‘As well as success in academic assessment being shared today, it important to us to recognise the many achievements of our pupils, in areas of applied learning, sport, culture, heritage and community service,’ added the spokesperson.
‘We also understand that one of the most important measures of success is the ability for pupils to go on to positive destinations after they leave school, equipped for the next step in the journey into employment, training or study.’
Chairman of the Education, Skills and Children’s Services Committee, Cllr Paul Steele, added: ‘In addition to congratulating and recognising the work and achievement of pupils, we would like to express our thanks to parent, carers and staff for your commitment to supporting our young people to achieve in challenging and changing circumstances.’
The Comhairle also conveyed their understanding that some pupils may not have received the results that had been hoped for and said that school staff were available to provide support and guidance.