Caithness pupils celebrate exam success
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A NUMBER of Caithness pupils are among those who have excelled in the exam results which were announced on Tuesday morning.
Seven pupils from Wick High School achieved five As in their SQA Higher exams this year – Sara Malik, David Teixeira, Archie Budge, Kirstin Ganson, Sarah Harper, Cate McGowan and Maja Pearson.
Reatha Brunjes and Kerry Plowman were the first pupils at Wick High to achieve foundation apprenticeships in social services, children and young people, through a partnership with North Highland College UHI.
Seventeen-year-old Maja Pearson, who gained her A passes in chemistry, English, human biology, mathematics and physics, said: "We were all so delighted with our results. We all signed up for the text message which came just after eight o'clock this morning."
Saying that it had been an anxious wait, Maja, who plans to study to be an actuary when she leaves school after sixth year, said: "I am quite delighted that all my hard work paid off."
Wick head teacher Dr Fiona Grant said: "We are very pleased with our exam results this year. There are some particularly pleasing results at Higher.
"Our improving results reflect the hard work and dedication of our young people in their studies, in addition to the support they have received from their parents and teachers."
At Thurso High School pupils also had outstanding achievements in the SQA results.
Thurso depute Anne Nicoll said: "We are pleased with a strong set of results at Thurso High School. Many pupils have overcome challenges to achieve grades that they should be proud of and should be particularly congratulated on their achievements."
A total of 41 pupils achieved the highest possible grade in at least one of their qualifications, with 40 per cent of S4 pupils passing five or more with grades A-C.
Among the stand-out individual performances for the highest attainers at Thurso High was Liam King (S6) who achieved three Advanced Highers at the top grade, one of which was maths which he passed with a mark of 98 per cent.
Keira Campbell also achieved three As at Advanced Higher, while Lucy Wares achieved five As at Higher and Fara Donald, Mia Bain, Zoe Craigie, Steven Thomson and Lucy McDonald all achieved six As at National 5.
Others with outstanding grades at Higher and Advanced Higher include Melissa Ross, Alix Mackay, Olivia Montgomery and Morag Mackay.
Mrs Nicoll said: "We would like to commend the hard work put in by pupils and staff that have made these results possible and wish every one of our pupils the best in the future."
Highland-wide, the exam results were hailed as "fantastic" by council chiefs.
S4 pupils recorded excellent levels of National 5 awards, with 45 per cent of pupils in S5 achieving five National 5s – an increase of six per cent since 2015 and an increase of 2.5 per cent compared with last year.
There has also been a significant increase (eight per cent) in the number of passes in Higher English – 94 per cent passed this year compared with 86 per cent last year. Similarly there has been an increase (five per cent) in the number of passes in maths, with 87 per cent passing this year as against 82 per cent last year.
The results are a real credit to the hard work of pupils, staff and the support of parents and carers.
A dramatic decrease in the number of no awards at Higher (440 less than last year) was also welcomed by the council.
Higher awards at A grade have increased by 0.8 per cent and there is a 20 per cent increase in 2019 of pupils attaining five A grades compared with 2018. Overall the exam results in S5 are very strong.
Councillor John Finlayson, chairman of Highland Council’s care, learning and housing committee, said: “This is a fantastic result for Highland Council pupils who have attained excellent results in both National 5 and Higher courses which have been refined in recent years.
"The results are a real credit to the hard work of pupils, staff and the support of parents and carers. Well done to everyone for all their hard work and effort. It is super to see Highland pupils continue to achieve better results year upon year resulting in a very positive attainment trend.
“I am also very pleased that 93 per cent of pupils received an award and that there are fewer pupils receiving no award. This is very positive as our ambition is to reach a position in which we have no pupils in a no-awards situation.
"Well done to all – and remember, if you didn’t get what you expected, help and advice is at hand from organisations such as Skills Development Scotland on its hotline 0808 100 8000, website and social media.”
Results have shown that there are more young people in the Highlands achieving A-C passes in S4 at National 5 with 8997 awards this year at National 5 compared with 8829 last year.
Nearly 350 pupils achieved five Higher passes, with 18 per cent of pupils in S5 achieving five Highers – the highest level ever achieved, and an increase of 2.4 per cent compared to last year.
All maths and English pass rates are significantly better this year at Higher and National 5 and the council says it is very pleased to see a significant improvement in the attainment of young people from the most deprived backgrounds in 2019 compared with 2018.
Initial expectation is to praise, celebrate and support pupils with their next steps.
Donna Manson, Highland Council’s chief executive, said: “Analysis of our exam results is ongoing as national and comparator trend data comes through. As an ambitious council we will be carrying out a 'lessons learned' approach both in terms of what has been successful this year and what we can improve upon both at council and school level.
"Initial expectation is to praise, celebrate and support pupils with their next steps."
Results information and advice is also available on Scotland’s careers website My World of Work which has practical help and links to UCAS, SAAS, Young Scot and the SQA.
To get in touch with the SDS helpline via social media go to My World of Work on Facebook at facebook.com/myworldofwork or Twitter at twitter.com/mywowscotland.
