STUDENTS have been hailed for their “resilience” as the number of pupils in East Lothian achieving A-C grades reached its highest for an exam diet since 2015.

A total of 13,098 resulted awards were certificated for 2,482 candidates across the county in 2022, an increase on last year’s 12,680 awards for 2,527 pupils.

This year’s results have been compared to the most recent exam diet in 2019, and also the five-year historical average covering exams 2015 to 2019 to provide comparison and context.

Last year’s results were based on an Alternative Certification Model and were not felt to be directly comparable.

Overall, the percentage achieving A-C awards in SQA courses was up three per cent in 2022 at 85 per cent compared to a five-year historical average of 82 per cent across SQA diet from 2015 to 2019.

It is the highest rate in East Lothian for an exam diet since 2015.

'Delighted'

Councillor Fiona Dugdale, cabinet member for education and children and family services, was “delighted” with the results.

She said: “They represent the hard work and dedication of all of our young people and school staff and I would like to offer my congratulations to them on their achievements.

“For some of our students, this will be the first time that they have been subject to traditional exam arrangements following the disruption of the last two years.

“It is to their credit that the results across all of our levels – from National 5 up to Advanced Highers – have increased.

“I also want to recognise the significant work of the central education team in both supporting the Raising Attainment Strategy and in working closely with schools to support continuous improvement.

“Fewer candidates have received more awards and at a higher level than the last comparable period and over the five-year average.

“That is a real achievement and a testament to their resilience and the support they have received from schools and families.”

Key highlights by SQA level are:

National 2 to National 4

  • National 2, National 3 and National 4 qualifications are made up of units which are internally assessed as pass or fail by the school or college, and externally quality-assured by SQA.
  • There were 15 awards certificated at National 2, 364 awards at National 3 and 2,551 awards at National 4.
  • The number of pupils presented for National 2 and National 3 awards were broadly in line across the five-year period, with an increase at National 4 (2015-2019 N4: 2238).

National 5

  • 81 per cent of candidates presented for National 5 qualifications in 2022 achieved A-C grades, an increase of three per cent on 2019 (78 per cent) and four per cent on the five-year average (77 per cent).
  • The number of S4 presentations at National 5 were in line with previous exam diet years; the number of S4 pupils achieving one or more awards at National 5 or better increased three per cent on 2019 (77.5 per cent compared to 74.5 per cent) and up one per cent on the five-year average (76.7 per cent).
  • The number of S4 pupils achieving three or more awards at National 5 in 2022 improved by eight per cent on 2019 (61.5 per cent compared to 53.4 per cent), and was 10 per cent above the five-year average.
  • Those achieving five or more awards also improved from 38.4 per cent in 2019 to 45.8 per cent in 2022, 10 per cent above the five-year average.
  • Overall, the pass rate for National 5 English was down three per cent on 2019 (87 per cent compared with 90 per cent) but in line with the five-year average, while maths was up five per cent on 2019 and three per cent above the five-year average at 67 per cent.

Highers

  • 81 per cent of all candidates presented for Higher qualifications in 2022 achieved A-C grades. This is an increase of four per cent on the five-year average and eight per cent above the performance in 2019.
  • S5 presentations for Highers were in line with previous years, with achievement rates rising amongst that group (84 per cent compared to a five-year average of 81 per cent).
  • Overall, the pass rate across all year groups for Higher English increased by three per cent from 80 per cent (five-year average) to 83 per cent in 2022, seven per cent above the performance in 2019.
  • Pass rates for maths also increased at Higher level from 74 per cent (five-year average) to 81 per cent in 2022, 12 per cent above the performance in 2019.
  • By the end of S5, there were improvements across all three Higher measures for the original S4 cohort: 57 per cent of pupils achieved one or more Highers (up six per cent on 2019 and up one per cent on five year average); 41 per cent achieved three or more Highers (up nine per cent on 2019 and up five per cent on five-year average); 22 per cent achieved five or more Highers (up five per cent on 2019 and the five-year average).
  • By the end of S6, there were also improvements across the three Higher measures: 63 per cent of pupils achieved one or more Highers (up one per cent on 2019 and the five-year average); 48 per cent achieved three or more Highers (up one per cent on 2019 and up two per cent on five-year average); 35 per cent achieved five or more Highers (up one per cent on 2019 and up three per cent on five-year average).

Advanced Highers

  • The number of S6 pupils presented for Advanced Highers increased nine per cent on the historical average (five-year average – 41 per cent) to 50 per cent of the S6 cohort, with pass rates one per cent above the five-year average (80 per cent in 2022 compared with 79 per cent – five-year average) and two per cent above the performance in 2019.
  • The percentage of the original S4 cohort achieving one or more Advanced Highers by the end of S6 also improved by three per cent from 22 per cent (five-year average) to 25 per cent in 2022, in line with the 2019 performance.

Ms Dugdale added: “It is important to reflect that there may be some young people who are disappointed with their own results.

“I would encourage them to contact Skills Development Scotland’s helpline to discuss their options.

“I’m sure we all recognise exam results are just one measure of success and it is important to remember there are many opportunities that remain open to you.

“SDS’s trained advisors can help if you want to discuss your next steps.”