SQA Results 2005 – Highland

Pupils from the twenty nine secondary schools in Highland received their SQA results today – Tuesday 9th August. In recent years Highland pupils have consistently achieved high standards. The initial analysis of results this year shows that boys have narrowed the gap between their performance and that of girls.

In the fourth year the percentage of boys gaining standard grades at Foundation Level now equals that of girls. Girls, however, still perform significantly better than boys in standard grade at credit level. The overall pass rate in Standard grade this year is 99% which compares well to a national pass rate of 97.3%

The Higher results have shown a drop of 1% in the number of pupils gaining one and three awards together with an increase of 1% in the number of pupils gaining five awards. The results are broadly consistent with the pattern over the past 5 years. In fifth year, boys have improved their performance on previous years in each of the categories of those gaining one, three or five Highers while girls this year have gained less Highers overall.

Donnie MacDonald, Head of Education Services said: "All nine pupils at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton who sat the Advanced Higher in Music gained A passes. On the initial analysis of results, two schools Fortrose and Dornoch reported "probably our best results ever at Higher grade".

"It is good to note that improvements have been made in some areas of performance, particularly that of boys in fourth year. From the initial analysis these results show that the high achieving pupils in Highland are performing better than ever. We now need to focus on the attainment of pupils at Foundation and General level in S4 and those achieving 3 or less Highers in their fifth year. When we have fully analysed these results we will be discussing with head teachers and staff how we can focus on those aspects of performance we still need to improve so as to maintain and further develop the high standard of education achieved by Highland pupils. At this stage, these results compare very favourably with the performance of pupils in other parts of the country. Highland pass rates continue to exceed or equal national pass rates particularly at Higher grade level. Pupils, staff and parents are to be congratulated on these results."