As pupils from across the Borders receive confirmation of their exam results today, our Executive Member for Children and Young People has paid tribute to the successes pupils have achieved.
Councillor Carol Hamilton has also acknowledged the way in which young people, teaching staff, parents and family carers have risen to the challenges presented by Covid-19 on the assessment process for a second year.
Attainment and achievement
Today’s results are the first snapshot of attainment and achievement for the 2020/21 session, with a fuller picture available later in the year when other accreditation such as group and wider achievement awards are finalised.
The number of exams sat across the Borders this year remains in line with the previous year at 13,000 in total, with approximately:
- 4,086 at Higher
- 614 at Advanced Higher
- 5,977 at National 5
Schools continue to accredit a broad range of subjects and qualifications at the more challenging SCQF Level 5/National 5 award with an increase of young people gaining qualifications at SCQF Levels 1-3. The overall pass rate (A-C) for S4 pupils at SCQF Level 5 has improved in 2021 by 3 percent to 88.3 percent. The overall attainment at SCQF Level 6 remains broadly in line with previous years at 85.4 percent.
Of the young people who were assessed in May 2021 in the core skills areas of Literacy and Numeracy, more young people than ever are attaining success:
- 99 percent of S4 achieved a literacy award
- 99 percent of S4 achieved a National 5 English award
- 91 percent of S4 achieved a numeracy award
- 85 percent of S4 achieved a National 5 award in a Maths course
Positive destinations
In terms of positive destinations, Scottish Borders remains in the top quartile nationally and well above the Scottish average, with 94.64 percent of young people achieving a positive and sustained destination. This remains in line with previous years.
Support and advice after exam results
- Pupil support information is available on our website.
- The Skills Development Scotland helpline 0808 100 8000 is open from 8am-8pm on 10-11 August, 9am-5pm on 12-13 August and 9am-5pm on 16-18 August. Advisers can provide access to information on UCAS course vacancies at college and universities across the UK, confirmation and clearing, Modern Apprenticeships and other employment and training opportunities.
- Additional information is available on the SQA website and on My World of Work website.
Councillor Carol Hamilton, Executive Member for Children and Young People
“Once again our young people have been faced with an unprecedented set of circumstances and the results achieved today are testament to the remarkable flexibility and resilience that they have shown.
“Our teaching staff have again worked extremely hard together with the SQA to ensure the assessment process has been as fair and transparent as possible and there has been minimal impact on our young people and what they have been able to achieve. As a result, it is encouraging to see that Scottish Borders has attained a set of results which demonstrate a picture of consistent achievement.
“More than ever, it is important to remember that every pupil is different and will have their own ambitions and aims. For some, these results will be vital in getting a place at university, but for others they will be an important step towards a job, a Modern Apprenticeship, further education or simply being able to take their preferred subjects and qualifications in their next school year.
“It is therefore encouraging to see that our commitment to preparing our young people for their next steps in life continues to pay dividends, with an increasing number of them being able to leave education with higher levels of qualifications and attainment and move on to positive and sustained destinations.
“I certainly hope that as many as possible of our young people received the results they were hoping for. However, for any who didn’t, the first thing to remember is don’t panic. There is no wrong pathway; everyone’s learner journey is different and their school or an organisation like Skills Development Scotland have staff on hand to provide all the reassurance and advice they need.
“As always, it is impossible to compare year-to-year as courses and exams change, as do the pupils sitting them. This has become particularly difficult during Covid with this year’s results, for example, being based on the third different model of assessment meaning that any comparison with previous years attainment should be done with an even greater degree of caution. Our aim therefore is to ensure that our schools consistently provide the best possible opportunities for learning at all levels for our young people, and the results today are just one small part of that.”
Notes to editors
- Images are available on our Flickr page
- Headteacher quotes are available on our website