Steady level of results

North Lanarkshire pupils have maintained their level of performance according to this year’s exam results.

S5 students’performance saw an improvement for those obtaining both 1+ and 3+ Highers.

However, those obtaining five Highers or more fell from 11.9 per cent to 11.7 per cent.

There was also a decrease in S6 pupils obtaining Advanced Highers – down from 16.3 per cent to 14.4 per cent.

The number of S6 students getting more than five Highers were also down.

S4 pupils’data indicates that pupils are broadly in line with previous years with 39.3 per cent of young people successful in attaining five or more National 5 awards, a slight decrease from last year.

Derek Brown, the council’s Executive Director of Education and Families, said: “Results day is an important moment in the lives of so many young people and we celebrate their success and the achievements of all our learners across a wide range of areas.

“It allows us to celebrate the variety of options that pupils now have available to them to choose their own route and equip themselves with vital skills for learning, life and work.

“This could mean moving directly into the world of work, gaining qualifications while working, choosing an apprenticeship, studying at college, gaining the qualifications to go on to university, or any varying combination of these.

“When one of our pupils succeeds in gaining entry to any one of these routes it deserves celebration in equal measure.

“We are seeing improvements in a range of areas including academic, vocational and employability skills which reflects the hard work and effort put in by young people, the staff and indeed the families who support them.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all staff who have supported our young people in their achievements and also to recognise the support provided by parents and carers.”