THE SCOTTISH Qualifications Authority (SQA) has reported a large increase in the number of passes at Higher and Advanced Higher this year, while the number of students who sat exams has fallen.

 Standard Grade rates did not fluctuate much from their previous figure of 98.5 per cent, 0.5 per cent more people passed Higher exams, and 1.8 per cent more passed at Advanced Higher. This raises their pass rates respectively to 75.2 per cent and 79.3 per cent.The Higher increase brings the results back to the level they were at ten years ago.

There is also a chance that these results may increase again when the appeals come into the system after Christmas. Along with the rises in the successful sittings of Highers and Advanced Highers, there was an increase in the number of students sitting Baccalaureate exams in both the sciences and languages. Baccalaureate exams are a new Scottish system, linking between school subjects, work and higher or further education.

The total number of students sitting the Baccalaureate was 138 in 2010, and this rose to 174 in 2011. Dr Janet Brown, Scotland’s chief examining officer, was encouraged by the increases in the pass rate. 

 She said, “This year, we continue to witness modest but important increases in the attainment levels of our young people.”

Brown feels that the improvement should not be lessened by falling student numbers, and that the quality of teaching and changes to its implementation have had a particular impact. She added, “For me, this reflects in no small measure, the results of the changes teachers have been making to learning and teaching approaches.”

Speaking specifically about English, which has seen particular improvement, she said, “Undoubtedly, these improvements have been assisted by the changes which we made this year to the assessment of courses in English – changes which better reflect the breadth of the learning which we now expect in English.

”Education secretary Mike Russell offered his congratulations to those who had passed their courses. He said: “We’ve actually got an improvement in results in Scotland, that’s a testimony to hard work. To young people who’ve worked very hard to get the results they need I’m very pleased, I congratulate them for that.” 

 Royal Mail is already making arrangements in coordination with the SQA to make next year’s delivery of results as smooth as possible. Ian McKay, Royal Mail Scottish affairs director, commented on the importance of this. He said, “All of our people, many of whom have children themselves, understand just how important this day is for families.”