Article Source: East Renfrewshire Council
Last Updated: 4 August 2020 13:23
Attainment has continued to rise across the area, with very strong National 5 results and record-breaking performances in S5 and S6.
Thousands of children from across East Renfrewshire celebrated their results today (Tuesday 4 August), although in the most unprecedented of circumstances due to the impact of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
With the Scottish Government announcing in March that this year’s SQA exams would not go ahead, it has meant a new experience for teachers and pupils to ensure that all the hard work and dedication which had already been put in was fairly recognised.
East Renfrewshire Council’s Convener for Education and Equalities, Councillor Paul O’Kane, heaped praise on staff and pupils across the area for their resilience during these challenging times.
Councillor O’Kane said: “It has been a year like no other, especially for our pupils receiving SQA results today. No one could have foreseen the cancellation of the exam diet, however, it is absolutely right that our pupils’ hard work and dedication has been recognised in today’s results. All East Renfrewshire’s schools have continuously improved teachers’ skills in assessing pupil progress. As such our confidence in the rigorous, evidence based processes our schools have had in place for a number of years for pupils’ estimates, combined with the knowledge that staff have of their learners, have ensured that the hard work of all our young people has been rightly and fairly recognised through the alternative certification model the SQA put in place this year.”
“Staff, pupils and parents are to be commended for the resilience they’ve shown during these trying months and I’m delighted that the results awarded to pupils across East Renfrewshire are so positive. We have a track record of our pupils’ delivering excellent exam results and our constant drive to achieve equity and excellence has stood today’s pupils in good stead under these most unusual circumstances. Well done to everyone receiving results today and we look forward to returning to school next week.”
Key achievements include:
• 77% of S4 pupils achieved 5 or more qualifications at National 5 or better (similar to the previous year and the second best performance to date)
• 94% of S4 pupils achieved 5 or more qualifications at National 4 or better (similar to the result at this stage last year)
• 21% of S4 pupils achieved 8 or more grade A passes at National 5 (301 pupils).
• Woodfarm High School and Eastwood High School achieved their best ever S4 results. The proportion of S4 pupils in St Ninian’s High School who achieved 5 or more awards at National 5 also increased and was the second highest result ever.
• 85% of S5 pupils achieved 1 or more Highers (up from 81% last year)
• 69% of S5 pupils achieved 3 or more Highers (up from 66% last year)
• 46% of S5 pupils achieved 5 or more Highers (up from 44% last year)
• Barrhead and Woodfarm High Schools had their best results for 1 or more and 3 or more Highers, whilst Eastwood had its best ever S5 results across all the key measures.
• 222 young people across the authority achieved 5 or more Highers at grade A in S5.
• 42% of S6 pupils achieved 1 or more Advanced Higher awards – the area’s best ever performance (up from 40% last year)
• Mearns Castle High School High had their best ever results for the proportion of S6 pupils achieving 1 or more Advanced Highers.
Mhairi Shaw, Director of Education at East Renfrewshire Council, said: “We have put in place the processes and procedures to ensure that we are able to support pupils at every step along their educational journey. Our focus on providing excellent experiences is clearly having an impact as year after year our pupils continue to produce outstanding results. It has certainly been a year we will never forget, but I’m delighted and confident that our systematic approach to supporting pupils has ensured that their achievements have been fairly recognised in today’s exam results. These results are testament to the hard work of pupils, teachers and parents and I congratulate you all. It’s also extremely pleasing that once again we have successfully tackled the poverty related attainment gap. This year there was a significant increase in the proportion of S5 pupils from the most deprived areas achieving one or more Highers, and improvements in the gap between pupils from the most and least deprived areas who achieved 5 or more National 5 qualifications in S4.”
Image Credit: Gibson Digital
Full cast and creatives announced for the tour of Maggie & Me, the first stage adaptation of Damian Barr's award-winning memoir touring UK in May and June!
READ MOREDobbies today launches Dobbies Community Gardens, to offer support for community and charity groups across the UK to help transform, restore or start their indoor or outdoor green spaces.
READ MOREA sinister story involving 'stovies' and a grisly tale about the strange sheep of Greshornish have been chosen as the winning and runner-up stories in The Glencairn Glass crime short story competition
READ MOREThe National Trust for Scotland is going hopping mad for Easter and hosting a bumper 35 Easter egg trails at the special places in its care this spring.
READ MOREGreat Run 2024 series highlights inspirational stories from runners around the UK.
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, is bringing back its much-loved Easter event, inviting families to hop along to their nearest store and enjoy an Easter Bunny Breakfast egg-stravaganza.
READ MOREFriday 8th March marks International Women's Day and to celebrate Vue is set to screen four inspiring films which follow the achievements of incredible female leads.
READ MORENew research released by VisitScotland reveals the growing popularity of Scottish traditional music, finding that over a third of Scots (34%) are listening to it more often in the past year.
READ MOREEast Renfrewshire libraries will host a series of events and author visits this month, to encourage conversations around climate change.
READ MOREA stellar line-up of authors are set to take Paisley by storm at this year's Paisley Book Festival in April!
READ MOREThe AJ Bell Great Scottish Run is back on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October, and the Earlybird offer to save up to £8 off your entry ends this Friday 1st March at 10am.
READ MOREEast Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure, in partnership with greenspace scotland, are seeking artists/designers in four commissions, to produce one of a set of covid memorials.
READ MOREA Scottish author's poignant tale of generosity and kindness has raised £2,262 to help the homeless.
READ MOREDobbies is offering customers the chance to treat the mother figures in their lives to an indulgent Mother's Day Afternoon Tea experience and a special flower gift on March 9th & 10th.
READ MOREAn Impassioned photo-led exhibition that depicts the challenge, pride and responsibility felt by those working in Scotland’s fishing industry is to debut within the Scottish Parliament.
READ MOREThe Scottish Influencer Awards, the major awards ceremony celebrating Scotland's stars of social, has announced the full shortlist of nominees in the running to be named the Influencer of the Year.
READ MOREEast Renfrewshire Culture and Leisure has announced its holiday camp programme for 2024, so parents can plan ahead to keep the kids active and entertained throughout school holidays this year.
READ MOREChannel 4's 'Location, Location, Location' is coming to Glasgow this Spring and they're looking for property hunters!
READ MOREDobbies is encouraging gardeners of all ages and skill levels across the country to get one of their 5 a day by learning how to grow soft fruits at one of its free workshops in March.
READ MOREThe West End cast of Back to Bacharach is searching for a local community choir to join them on stage at Eastwood Park Theatre on 4th May.
READ MOREScotland's largest wedding showcase, The Scottish Wedding Show, returns to Glasgow this Valentine's weekend and is putting love on display as the country celebrates 10 years of same sex marriage.
READ MORELocal author Breea Keenan's debut novel Plot Twist will be launched by a leading London-based publisher on 28th March.
READ MOREThe whole family can enjoy a day of magical storytelling and farmyard fun at the National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride this half-term!
READ MORETo mark the anniversary of Mary Queen of Scots’ death, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has released a digital 3D model of her death mask.
READ MORERory McIlroy will return to the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, North Berwick from July 11th-14th, with tickets on sale now!
READ MOREDobbies, the UK's leading garden centre, will be indulging people of all ages with its Valentine's Afternoon Tea, taking place across 68 of its stores on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February!
READ MOREFollowing a sell-out run at the Fringe, Jack Docherty, the BAFTA award-winning star of Scot Squad and Absolutely, is taking his critically-acclaimed show David Bowie & Me: Parallel Lives on tour.
READ MOREWith less than four weeks until the first World Athletics Indoor Champion Glasgow 24 is crowned, organisers have revealed the medal specially commissioned for the event following a design competition.
READ MOREWorld-renowned festival Celtic Connections drew to a triumphant close last night after 18 days of spectacular sold-out concerts, innovative musical sessions and star-studded collaborations.
READ MORETaking over the whole of the SEC campus from tomorrow, The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show, the biggest show of its kind in Scotland is not to be missed!
READ MOREGo Radio | Number 1 for Glasgow & The West - Listen on DAB, Online or on your Smart Speaker, just say "Launch Go Radio"