Falkirk area pupils' efforts result in 'best-ever' grades

When Scottish exams were cancelled for the first time in history due to the coronavirus pandemic, teachers were tasked with using estimates to determine final grades.

Nationally, overall pass rates have risen despite almost 125,000 grades being lowered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

While full details of the results achieved in National 5s, Highers and Advanced Highers by pupils in the Falkirk region have still to be released, education bosses believe students have produced the finest scores ever recorded in this area.

Robert Naylor, director of Children’s Services at Falkirk Council, said: “A very early look at our position suggests that in both S4 and S5 we have achieved our best-ever results and that it is a broadly similar picture for S6 compared to last year.

“We are doing further, more detailed, examination of all the results in the near future. I can only praise the hard work of staff and pupils in achieving this great result in such a difficult period.”

Council leader Cecil Meiklejohn said: “This has been a massively challenging year for all pupils and school staff because of Covid-19.

“The additional pressures that exams can bring can be extensive, however, we must recognise the efforts put in by pupils and school staff in getting through this really difficult time.

“We continue to have an improving, positive trend across our schools and this year’s results which were arrived at through predicted grades.

“Our approach of using our own internal moderation for pupil performance has been validated by the final SQA results issued and this will allow pupils to access a whole range of positive destinations on offer.”

Among the pupils who are celebrating in the Falkirk area is 16-year-old Isla Keenan.

The Larbert High School fifth year was awarded an A in Advanced Higher Spanish, As in Higher English and Higher modern studies and a Bs in Higher maths and Higher physics.

Isla has also secured a place at the University of Edinburgh where she will study international business with Spanish.

She admits the cancellation of exams, combined with the strange set of circumstances pupils faced during lockdown, made for worrying times.

Isla added: “It was quite nerve-racking because we didn’t have any control over anything but I guess it all worked out in the end.”

St Mungo’s High School S5 pupil Katie Cunningham had already accepted an offer of a chemical processing apprenticeship with Ineos when her results were confirmed on Tuesday morning.

However, the 17-year-old’s commitment to her studies saw her rewarded with Bs in Higher English and Higher human biology, as well as Cs in Higher chemistry and Higher maths.

Katie, who will start work with the Grangemouth firm next month, said: “I was a bit nervous.

“I didn’t need my exams to get my apprenticeship, I just needed National 5s but I still tried hard. We did assignments and I worked hard during the year.”

Kirsty Rae (18), an S6 pupil at Braes High School, earned herself As in Advanced Higher maths, Advanced Higher biology and Advanced Higher chemistry. She also achieved an A in Higher physics.

Preparing to study dentistry at the University of Dundee, Kirsty said: “I felt quite nervous because it wasn’t up to what I did in the exams but at least I had my prelims and tests to fall back on.”

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