A SCHOOL that has doubled the number of its pupils passing Higher exams has been given one of the country's best-ever education reports.

A SCHOOL that has doubled the number of its pupils passing Higher exams has been given one of the country's best-ever education reports.

Dalziel High School in Motherwell boasts an 85% school leaver success record, which means nearly all pupils go on to university, college, training or employment.

Last year 42% of pupils progressed to higher education, compared with a national average of 30%, and 43% went into employment or training.

The school was awarded three excellent' ratings out of five under the government's new revised HMI grading system.

The school was judged the best in Scotland for improving performance, meeting learners' needs and improvement through self-evaluation.

Dalziel is only the second school in Scotland to be awarded the top rating for improvement through self-evaluation.

In 2006 the school introduced a pilot scheme giving pupils two years instead of one to study for Higher exams, which has led to pass rates doubling.

A total of 95 fifth-year students gained Higher English at grades A-C last year, compared with 39 in 2006.

The number of candidates who gained Higher maths at the top three grades also rose, with 60 gaining the certificate at A-C this year, compared with 39 in 2006.

THE report says: "The school has been successful in maintaining consistently high standards of attainment.

"When young people leave school, almost all go to university or college, or are successful in getting a job."

Dalziel, which has 984 pupils, was also awarded two very good' ratings for the curriculum and learners' experiences.

Attendance levels were rated as well above the national average. The school attributes this, in part, to a scheme where teachers are assigned as health tutors to help monitor pupils' health and fitness.

Dalziel has also set up a support tutor system where, unlike most schools, almost all staff are guidance teachers to offer support for all pupils rather than the most problematic.

Cameron Walker, 16, a fifth-year pupil, said: "The relationship between pupils and teachers is really good. I've had a lot of help from staff.

"Doing Highers over two years means you can spend the whole of fifth year on exam paper practice, which really helps."

Cailin Whitelock, 14, a third-year pupil, said: "There are a lot of good after-school clubs. You can do all your school work during class time and your hobbies after school."

The school was also praised for the leadership of head teacher Brian Miller and promoting a high level of expectation among pupils.

Inspectors singled out the school's tough anti-bullying policy, which includes action to address cyber bullying and a pupil contract outlining principles of acceptable use of the internet.

Mr Miller said: "I'm very proud of the report.

"It's like going to the Olympics and coming back with three gold and two silver medals.

"Our Higher and Standard Grade results had been improving over the years and we had reached a plateau.

"We were discussing what we could do to kick-start even bigger improvements.

"Two years ago we started allowing pupils to sit their Standard Grades in third year to give them two years to study for Highers.

"The results were entirely what we had hoped for.

"Standard Grades remained much the same but our Higher results have improved spectacularly.

"It allows pupils and teachers to go into the subject in far greater depth.

"The report is testimony to the commitment by so many people over so many years.

"The education provided at Dalziel is the best I've experienced in all my years of teaching."

Dalziel is among the first schools in Scotland to be examined under the new HMI system, which grades schools using five indicators instead of 17 to help reduce the burden and bureaucracy on schools.

Jack McConnell, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said: "Dalziel High School is an outstanding example of the best of Scottish education."