Exam success: pupil is first in his school to earn a Higher

Teenager Keiran McNiven has become a trailblazer for his school - after becoming the first to earn a Higher.

The 17-year-old attends Abercorn School, for children with additional needs, but teachers gave him the support needed to gain a qualification in administration and IT.

Keiran, from Pollok, was taken to St Roch's Secondary for classes.

His mum, Patricia Kilday, had concerns he would find mainstream classes difficult - but Keiran, who has Asperger’s, thrived.

Patricia said: "He was really nervous about getting his results this morning but I was just saying to him, 'Do the best you can and don't stress about it'.

"So when the result came in this morning we were absolutely thrilled and so proud.

"It was quite stressful for him to travel back and forth to St Roch's and I was stressed because I was worried he would have an autistic meltdown and the teacher wouldn't know how to deal with it.

"But he was great and it's really paid off."

Keiran received offers of places at three different colleges.

He has now chosen to study at Glasgow Clyde's College's Cardonald campus and is looking forward to getting started after the holidays.

Patricia added: "I can't thank Abercorn enough. When we chose that school for him I asked that they would push Keiran as much as possible and they have done.

"He's been skiing in Italy and travelled to Spain. The staff are brilliant and they couldn't do enough for him."

Meanwhile, Saira Baig, an asylum seeker who joined Woodfarm High School in East Renfrewshire in 2014 from Pakistan, has achieved top results.

She has overcome various challenges to achieve a six As at National 5, A grade Higher Urdu and PE at National 4.

Saira, who has four younger brothers, said: “I am really pleased with my results, and would like to thank my Allah, my parents and all those teachers who supported and encouraged me through difficult times, and motivated me to keep going.

“I’d like for my brothers to do even better than me."