Scots exam passes hit record high

3 August 2011 Last updated at 19:54 ET

By Andrew Black Political reporter, BBC Scotland

Almost 160,000 people are getting their exam results in the post

Pass rates for Standard Grade and Higher results have hit a record high, despite a fall in the number of ng people sitting exams.

The figures came as almost 160,000 people across Scotland were receiving their results in the post.

The Higher pass rate stood at 79.3%, an increase of 1.8% on the previous year, with the figure for Advanced Highers at 75.2%, up 0.5%.

Standard Grade pass rates overall stayed at 98.5%.

The results came following a blunder which saw almost 30,000 pupils receive their exam results a day early, after signing up to get their grades by text message to their mobile phones.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority was forced to apologise for the error, and insisted nobody was advantaged or disadvantaged as a result of the early delivery.

Almost 36,000 pupils signed up to get their exam results electronically, by text or email.

This year’s results also saw an increase in the number of pupils studying for the new Scottish Baccalaureate qualifications in science and languages – 174, compared with 138 last year.

Now in its second year, the Baccalaureate aims to encourage high-achieving ngsters to take up the subjects and help them bridge the gap between school and college, university or work.

A total of 159,744 pupils are receiving exam certificates, down from 160,745 in 2010 – a figure which reflects falling school rolls across the country.

Scotland’s chief examining officer Janet Brown said: “This year, we continue to witness modest but important increases in the attainment levels of our ng people.

“For me, this reflects in no small measure, the results of the changes teachers have been making to learning and teaching approaches.”

Dr Brown said one of the most notable areas was an improvement in attainment for English courses.

“Undoubtedly, these improvements have been assisted by the changes which we made this year to the assessment of courses in English – changes which better reflect the breadth of the learning which we now expect in English,” she said.

Some 733,500 exams were taken across Scotland between May and June this year at nearly 550 schools and colleges, overseen by a 15,000-strong army of markers and monitors, appointed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

This year also saw the introduction of an externally-assessed folio of writing for Higher English students, as well as a mandatory paper on Scottish history in the Higher exam, including questions on the Wars of Independence, Treaty of Union and migration and Empire.

Education Secretary Mike Russell praised the hard work and achievement of ng people across Scotland.

Mr Russell said: “The increased attainment levels show that all the hours of hard work and study students put in can really pay off.

“Scotland’s ng people clearly have high ambitions and are achieving great success – we want to build on this and deliver further improvements because better skills means better jobs and better jobs mean a wealthier Scotland for all.

“The attainment and achievements of Scottish pupils that we are seeing today are a real cause for celebration, and will go a long way in improving their life chances.”

Skills Development Scotland’s exam results advice line, 0808 100 8000, is also open to provide students and parents with instant access to help, advice and information about higher education choices and next steps.

Meanwhile, Royal Mail said it was pulling out all the stops to make sure exam results arrive in the post as quickly as possible, after months of perpetration by special planning teams and close working with the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Royal Mail Scottish affairs director Ian McKay said: “This is a massive day for every pupil in Scotland, who is waiting for their results.

“All of our people, many of whom have children themselves, understand just how important this day is for families.”

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