Pupils praised as exam results continue to rise

School pupils from across South Lanarkshire and East Renfrewshire received their exam results this week.

Students from schools in the two areas joined more than 135,000 pupils across Scotland in receiving full results of their Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers on Tuesday morning.

Education bosses at the both local authorities say they are pleased with performance levels, which point to “encouraging” pass levels.

In South Lanarkshire attainment of pupils in S4 at all levels has improved since last session and that the attainment of S5 pupils in their Highers was largely maintained.

There was an increase in the number of S6 pupils gaining more than 1 Advanced Higher, reflecting the range of programmes available.

Executive director of education for SLC, Tony McDaid, said he wanted to “celebrate the achievements of young people” after their studies over the last year.

He added: “This is an exciting time of the year for many young people and I invite you to join me in celebrating these as well as continuing to support them on their next steps.”

Meanwhile, in East Renfrewshire, education bosses praised students for achieving “outstanding SQA exam results”.

Figures for the area, which includes Mearns Castle High School where Eaglesham pupils attend, showed continued increase in attainment.

There, 78 per cent of S4 pupils achieved five or more National 5 passes, up from 75 per cent last year.

Twenty per cent of S4 pupils achieved eight or more As at National 5, and 44 per cent of S5 pupils gained five or more Highers – the second highest performance ever.

Mearns Castle maintained very high attainment across key S5 measures, with 165 pupils across East Renfrewshire achieving five or more As at Higher.

At Advanced Higher in S6, the performance across the authority was also very strong with 40 per cent achieving at least one award. Director of education, Mhairi Shaw, said: “Our approach is clearly having an impact as year after year, our pupils continue to produce outstanding results.

“Our approach recognises all children progress at a different pace and need to be supported appropriately. We take a rounded, holistic approach to develop the whole young person.

“A hugely successful vocational training programme is also in place across all our schools. These results are testament to the hard work of pupils, teachers and parents and I congratulate you all.”

Headteacher at St Andrew’s and St Bride’s High in East Kilbride, Fiona Mullen, congratulated her pupils for their “outstanding” results.

Speaking to the News on Tuesday morning, she told how 99 per cent of S4 pupils achieved the equivalent of at least three National 3 or 4 awards, with 70 per cent achieving five National 5 qualifications, and 51 per cent amassing seven or more.

Those results helped to make 2018/19 the best set of results for S4 pupils at the school on record.

Fiona added that 64 per cent of S5 students gained three or more Higher passes, with 30 per cent of the year group accomplishing five.

A total owf 127 Advanced Highers, further Highers, Open University passes and other vocational qualifications were also secured by S6 pupils.

She added: “This is a tremendous achievement and testament to the hard work and commitment of our students, the help and encouragement of parents.”