By HOLLY LENNON

GLASGOW school pupils are celebrating after making the grade with another year of success in their exam results

Over 11,000 young people received their results including National 5, Highers and SQA Awards results by text, email or post.

Glasgow pupils have turned out another record performance with more than 50 per cent achieving one or more Higher.

The number of S5 young people with three or more Highers has also increased to 25.7 per cent - from only 12 per cent at the same stage in 2006.

Results figures have been continuing to rise in the city in the past ten years, while exclusion rates are falling.

Since 2006, exclusions across the city have reduced by 74 per cent.

Councillor Chris Cunningham, City Convener for Education, Skills and Early Years, said: “Once again our young people have raised the bar and today we are able to celebrate our best ever exam results.

“Glasgow really is making an impressive impact on closing the attainment gap and improving the outcomes and life chances of our children.

“This is an outstanding achievement and proves our schools and school staff are instrumental in raising the attainment, achievement and aspirations of Glasgow’s young people.

“Pupils and teachers should be very proud of themselves today for their hard work, determination and commitment has paid off and we are delighted.”

One city school has had extra cause for celebration after its pupils achieved historically good results.

An impressive 15 per cent of S5 pupils at Castlemilk High School achieved five highers, with two students securing themselves five straight A results.

Head teacher Lynn McPhillips said that staff and pupils have worked together to eradicate the ‘poverty of ambition’.

She said: “There is a real sense of ambition among the pupils here. They have been coming together to study including coming in as early as 7am, during the Easter Holiday’s and on weekends.

“We used the Pupil Attainment Fund to make sure we equipped them with everything they could possibly need and set-up the breakfast club.

“We gave them a box full of pens, past papers - which we’re looking to give to all pupils again next year.

“By bringing in mentoring, attainment support and tracking and monitoring, we’ve made sure all the pupils receive one-to-one help.

“On days like today it makes it all worth it. We want our other pupils to see the success and strive to get there too.

“We’re so proud of them all.”

Twins Abbey Campbell and Eve Campbell, both 17, Jack McCrone, 16, Rhys Cornes, 17, Catherine Laurence, 17, and Chloe Elliott, have made history through their hard work.

Abbey said: “It’s a great school here because everyone is really close.

“The teachers are always helpful, even if you’re not in their class. They have given up so much of their time, even coming in on weekends to help us.”

Catherine, who is looking to take on three Advanced Highers following her successful S5 year, added: “I’m hoping to go on to study medicine or apply to study in America.

“We have to go to other schools and The Hub at Glasgow Caledonian University for our Advanced Highers which will be good for the transition into uni.”

As well as achieving grades in like of maths and English, great results were also seen in subjects including engineering, construction, youth work, social care and automotive engineering.

In 2016/2017, 1,483 pupils gained a Leadership Qualification - nearly three times the number from 2010/11.

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

Scotland-wide, Higher passes dipped slightly but remain in line with attainment rates.

Candidates passed 150,010 Highers, with an attainment rate (grades between A and C) of 77 per cent, down slightly from 152,701 passes with a rate of 77.2 per cent last year.

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) said the results were evidence of a “very stable system” with the total number of Highers sat in 2017 just under 195,000, compared to almost 198,000 last year.

The Deputy First Minister John Swinney also announced a shake-up of Scottish education meaning pupils will spend less time being tested.

Despite longer exams in some situation, he said that there will be a “balance” between coursework and assessment.

The Scottish Government is putting in place various education reforms designed to address the attainment gap and lift standards overall.

Other measures include targeting funding for deprived areas, direct cash for headteachers and new educational regions to share best practice among schools.

New national standardised assessments are also being introduced from August.