News / Strong set of exam results for isles pupils
SHETLAND’s secondary school pupils have performed well in this year’s exams as they started to receive their results on Tuesday.
A total of 580 pupils will receive their results via post, text or email.
One pupil with a big reason to celebrate on Tuesday morning was Anderson High School’s Joanne Tait, who achieved three advanced higher As and an A in higher engineering science.
She will now go to the University of Glasgow to study electrical engineering with music from September with the aim of specialising in audio electronics.
“I’m very pleased with my results. I wasn’t really expecting to do so well,” Joanne, who lives in Sandwick, said.
“I didn’t get too nervous leading up to today as my conditions for uni seemed pretty achievable given my prelim results, and there was a lot less pressure on me overall compared to fifth year.”
Figures show that Shetland’s attainment levels have again been kept at a high level, with just over 96 per cent of candidates passing National 4 exams compared to 93.7 per cent last year.
There was also an increase in the pass rate for the new advanced higher exams, which was up to 80.7 per cent from 74.3 per cent in 2016.
The number of candidates passing national 5 at A to C level was 80.2 per cent for a second year running, while there was a 3.2 per cent drop to 76.8 per cent in those passing the new Higher course.
It is the fourth year that pupils have studied the national qualifications courses, which replaced standard grades in 2013/14 as part of the new curriculum for excellence programme.
They are usually studied by S4 pupils at the start of their three-year “senior phase” when they have the opportunity to undertake a range of academic and vocational qualifications.
Schools are now able to discuss the results directly with pupils, while information is also available from Skills Development Scotland’s website.
Shetland Islands Council’s education and families committee chairman George Smith praised the work of the isles’ pupils.
“It is very encouraging to see how well Shetland pupils have done in this year’s exams. I hope that all our pupils feel that they have done their best and that their results allow them to move on to the next stage of their lives,” he said.
“It is particularly pleasing that Shetland’s excellent attainment levels have been maintained and I would congratulate all pupils and thank teachers and support staff for this achievement.”
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