Glasgow pupils doing city proud with soaring results

Over the past 10 years, exam result figures have been steadily rising in the city while exclusion rates are falling.

The number of pupils achieving five or more Highers by the end of fifth year has doubled since 2007 from five per cent to 10 per cent.

Those achieving three or more Highers are also up - from 14 per cent in 2007 to 24.2 per cent this year.

Read more: Glasgow pupils doing city proud with soaring results

At the end of S6, 34.6 per cent of pupils achieved three or more Highers - nearly double that of 2007 when the figure was 18 per cent.

And this year, by the end of S6, 21 per cent of pupils had earned five or more Highers - more than double the number in 2007, when 10 per cent of pupils achieved the same outcome.

Maureen McKenna, executive director of education, has previously expressed her aim to have every pupil in the city leave school with at least one Higher.

This year, at the end of S5, 49 per cent achieved one or more Higher - in 2015 it was 46.8 per cent and in 2007 it was 28 per cent.

At the end of S6, 55.2 per cent of pupils had achieved one or more Higher - in 2007 it was just 30 per cent.

Read more: Glasgow pupils doing city proud with soaring results

This year Glasgow's 11, 531 pupils sat 45,782 National 4, National 5, Higher and Advanced Highers.

Pupil exclusion have reduced by 8 per cent overall since last year and since 2007 there has been a 74 per cent reduction.

And for the first time, Glasgow has more than 90 per cent of pupils going on to a positive destination, such as work, training, college or university.

Liz Cameron, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Lifelong Learning said: “Once again our young people have raised the bar with the best ever results being recorded by our secondary schools.

“I am so proud of their achievements and such amazing news for the city - we really are making an impact on closing the attainment gap.

“Glasgow’s exam success is at an all-time high and our schools have been awarded a fantastic report card today with exam results up across the majority of indicators.

“This is an outstanding achievement and proves we are raising the attainment, achievement and aspirations and improving the life chances of Glasgow’s young people."

Education bosses in the city have been providing more opportunities for young people who might not want to go on to university.

The range of vocational qualifications on offer in schools has increased through partnerships with colleges.

Young people have gained qualifications in engineering, construction, youth work, social care and automotive engineering.

Some pupils have also completed the first year of a Foundation Apprenticeship in Financial Services.

There are plans to expand the range of courses on offer in the coming academic year.

In 2015/16, 1674 pupils gained a Leadership qualification - 1071 boys and 603 girls.

This is nearly three times the number from 2010/11 when 559 pupils earned the same award.

This year, some 27 per cent of those were from the BME community and 57 per cent came from the 15 per cent of the most deprived postcodes in Scotland.

Glasgow continues to be the largest awarding authority in the UK for Sports Leaders UK.

Read more: Glasgow pupils doing city proud with soaring results

The city is also focused on the Duke of Edinburgh awards with an 80 per cent increase in the past five years of pupils achieving Bronze, Silver and Gold awards through schools and community groups.

In 2015/16, there was a 23 per cent increase to 524 from the previous year.

In 2014/15, a total of 90.3 per cent of Glasgow pupils went to a positive destination - the first time the city has had more than 90 per cent.

And young people are maintaining these positive destination - at a follow-up survey, 89.6 per cent of these leavers were still in a positive destination - this is the highest Glasgow has ever had.

Ten years ago the proportion of young people going to higher education was 18.2 per cent and in 2015 it was 33.9 per cent.

Scotland-wide, Higher passes were down slightly this year but a record number of Scottish pupils have been given a university place on exam results day.

Scottish students passed a total of 152,701 Highers in 2016, with an attainment rate of 77.2% - down on the 156,000 passes in 2015 but still the second highest number on record.

It is the first year that all schools and colleges have offered the new Higher to candidates following last year's phased introduction.

Education Secretary John Swinney said: "This has been another successful year for Scotland's young people and I would like to congratulate them on all their hard work and achievement.

"Today's results show that Scotland's learners continue to perform very well, with the second highest number of Higher passes on record despite a fall in the size of the S5 and S6 year groups."

The 2016 results indicate that problems with last year's Higher Maths exam have not been repeated.

The 2015 pass rate was lowered to 34% after complaints it was too hard, but this year the pass rate was around 50%.

Part of the 2016 English Higher paper was changed at short notice amid concern about a possible leak of a question. The pass mark for the subject was also 50%.

Ms Cameron added: “Glasgow’s parents can be assured that the education of their children is in safe hands and I promise that we will build on this success and continue to raise expectations and attainment.

“I realise that not everyone will have got the grades they were expecting today.

Read more: Glasgow pupils doing city proud with soaring results

“I would urge these young people and their families not to panic.

"They should contact their school where teachers are on hand to offer support and discuss alternative options.”

The UCAS website also contains information on clearing for students and the UCAS Social Media Team is ready to help people through Twitter and Facebook.

Advisers are also available on 03714 680468 and careers advisers through the Skills Development Scotland Exam Results Helpline, on 08081 008000.