SQA Results - Attainment in Highland Schools

Pupils from the twenty nine secondary schools in Highland received their SQA results today – Tuesday 8th August. One Highland pupil achieved outstanding results of 6 Highers at band A with another 47 pupils gaining an exceptional 5 or more Highers at band A.

Of the 47 pupils achieving 5 or more Highers at band A: 9 attend Fortrose Academy, 7 Millburn Academy, 5 Inverness Royal Academy, 4 Charleston Academy, 4 Lochaber High and 4 Thurso High School.

This initial analysis of results is based on the raw data received from the Examination Board and is subject to further analysis.

In recent years Highland pupils have consistently done well. The results this year show that Highland pupils continue to achieve high standards in National examinations. The performance of boys in S4 continues to improve at Foundation and General level while girls continue to do better than boys at Credit level. Overall the gender gap between the performance of boys and girls continues to narrow at the fourth year stage. 

At Higher grade there has been a very slight drop this year in the number of pupils gaining one and five Highers with virtually no change in the number gaining three Highers. In sixth year, the performance in Higher and Advanced Higher courses continues to improve resulting in the best results in recent years.

Donnie MacDonald, Head of Education Services said: “From the initial analysis these results show that pupils in Highland continue to do well in comparison with national figures and other comparator authorities. However, there is need to complete further analysis of these results to take account of the current changes in examination presentation both in our schools and nationally. In recent years some pupils are now presented for national examinations earlier, taking these examinations in their third year. This has an impact on the analysis of results particularly in fourth year.

“In addition, some pupils this year, for the first time, are undertaking new vocational course qualifications which at this stage are not included in the overall results received from the examination board. We appreciate how I important these results are for our young people and congratulate pupils, staff and parents on these results.”