Falkirk Council’s young people have performed very well overall in this year’s examinations.
This year marked the second year of the new National Qualifications, which are part of Curriculum for Excellence and which replaced Standard Grades in 2014.
In National 5, 39% of candidates in S4 achieved five or more passes at grades A-C, a significant improvement on the 2014 figure of 33%.
In Fifth Year, the Council’s schools presented for the first time in new Higher courses and examinations, designed to build on the Nationals and again in line with Curriculum for Excellence.
Overall figures in 5th year in the new Highers show an improvement on 2014, with 52 percent of pupils achieving at least one Higher compared to 50 percent in 2014. Thirty percent of pupils achieved at least three Highers, a rise of one percent on 2014. The percentage of pupils achieving at least five Highers remained the same as in 2014, at 14 percent.
By the end of Sixth Year, pupils showed significant improvement, with 41 percent of pupils gaining at least one Higher against 38 percent in 2014. Pupils gaining at least three Highers rose from 26 to 28 percent. The numbers gaining at least one Advanced Higher rose from 16 to 17 percent.
Councillor Alan Nimmo, spokesperson for Education said: “ I welcome the publication of the SQA examination results for those young people who sat examinations in Falkirk schools in May 2015.
“This is the first year that the young people who have experienced Curriculum for Excellence have sat the new Higher level examinations. Our hope has always been that we would be able to show that the approaches we have taken to the development of the new curriculum in Falkirk would pay dividends with regard to improving the performance of young people sitting Higher exams.
“Congratulations to all those S4 pupils who have achieved awards at National levels 3,4 and 5”
Robert Naylor, Director of Children’s Services said: “The fact that more young people have achieved these important qualifications is down to the hard work and commitment of many people and I want to publicly thanks our teachers who have worked tirelessly to ensure the successful development of the new curriculum.
“It is important also to thank our parents for the great support they give to our young people.
“Finally, I say well done to the young people themselves who have achieved so much. They should feel proud of their achievement”
Any parents or pupils involved in this year’s diet of exams who have queries regarding their results should contact their school directly.
SQA’s Candidate Advice Line is on 0345 279 1000.
Skills Development Scotland published a helpline for any pupils seeking advice, 0800 917 8000, for advice and support.