Plenty to celebrate for Moray students as SQA exam results revealed
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THERE has been plenty to celebrate for secondary students across Moray as they received their exam results today (Tuesday, August 9).
Over two thousand young people in the region have been waiting nervously for for a text from the SQA or their certificates to drop through the letter box after the return to formal exams since 2019.
Schools supported young people with a range of revision sessions, wellbeing interventions and alternative assessment arrangements for those who required additional support. This was while continuing to follow all Covid-19 mitigations in place for most of the session.
Performance across Moray continues to remain positive in key measures, with some exceptional individual results. A significant number of young people achieved Higher passes in S4, with this level of study suited to their individual learning pathway.
The number of young people achieving six and seven ‘A’ passes at National 5 along with those achieving six or seven awards at National 5 remains positive following this year’s change in assessment approach.
Over 90 per cent of young people achieved an award (A-D) at S4 National 5, S5 Higher and S6 Advanced Higher levels. In S4, performance is in line with session 2018-19, the last comparable SQA examination year.
Strong S4 performance is noted in National 5 Art and Design, English, Music and Physical Education. National 5 Maths also continues to show an upward trajectory of attainment.
Performance in S5 for Higher highlights 92 per cent of young people achieving an award (A-D). In particular, young people performed well in Art and Design, Business Management, English, Geography, Modern Studies and Physical Education. Performance and pass rates are once again noted as comparable to pre-pandemic levels.
In S6, young people studied a broad range of Higher and Advanced Higher subjects, with 87 per cent achieving awards (A-D). Significant Higher attainment is noted in Business Management, Modern Studies and Physical Education. At S6 Advanced Higher, performance was strong in a number of subjects including Art and Design, Chemistry, English, French, Geography, German, Mathematics, Music and Physics.
In total, 81 young people in S4 achieved six or more ‘A’ grades and 40 young people achieved seven or more ‘A’ grades at National 5. This is comparable to performance in the 2021 ACM.
In S5, 23 young people achieved five or more ‘A’ grades at Higher and eight young people achieved three grade ‘A’ awards at Advanced Higher level in S6. Over 30 per cent of young people in S6 achieved at least one award at Advanced Higher level.
Moray Council education staff continue their detailed results analysis of this year’s return to SQA examinations. Comparison with the last two years of Alternative Certification Model (ACM) is complex due to the different assessment approaches in place. While positive achievement through awards at A-D is noted, it is acknowledged that pass rates are lower across National 5 to Advanced Higher in comparison to last session’s ACM.
Moray Council’s Head of Education, Vivienne Cross, said: “2022 was the first year that our young people sat formal examinations since the pandemic started in 2020.
"I am extremely proud of their individual achievements, resilience and commitment during a disruptive period in their education.
“The importance of any form of accreditation, skills and knowledge is vital as the labour market fluctuates and the education team encourages all our young people to plan for their future and research career opportunities.
“Having a wide and flexible suite of courses and qualifications will be essential. Always remember there is no wrong path and it is absolutely alright to change your mind if it doesn’t go the way you planned.”
Any pupil requiring support or advice can contact their school in the first instance. Skills Development Scotland are also on hand to support with advice and next steps through the Exam Results Helpline and are contactable on 0808 100 8000. SQA candidate advice line may also be accessed on 0345 279 1000 or general advice may be accessed via their website, www.sqa.org.uk and social media @sqanews
Young people requiring advice about university places may contact UCAS online on www.ucas.com, on social media (facebook.com/ucasonline; Twitter @ucas_online) or by telephone on 0371 468 0468.
