'Positive' SQA exam results for pupils at Moray's eight secondary schools
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AFTER weeks of trepidation, pupils at Moray's eight secondary schools received their SQA exam results this morning.
This year was the second year since the return of formal SQA exams after the coronavirus pandemic, and results were largely in line with 2022.
Results were described as "positive" by Moray Council's chief education officer, Vivienne Cross, who had particular praise for this year's batch of S4 pupils.
Vivienne Cross, chief education officer, said: "The results are positive across Moray – particularly our fourth years, which we are proud of because the younger students were affected a lot by Covid.
"We have good results in Higher, particularly for individual pupils. There are a lot of pupils that are overcoming a lot and still achieving – so that's amazing.
"We have got young people who compete at sports so they are taking on their hobbies while working hard at school. It's not all about 5As, although we do celebrate that, it's looking at the wide range of qualifications.
"Thank you to the staff and parents for supporting the young people."
Eighty young people achieved six A grades at National 5, while a record 29 pupils achieved five or more A grades at Higher level.
In S4, 43 pupils achieved seven or more A passes at National 5 and 25 young people achieving a Higher. In S5, 15 per cent of pupils achieved five or more qualifications at Higher.
Elgin High School head teacher Hugh McCulloch was delighted to see strong results across the board in Moray – as well as at his own school.
"I'm immensely proud of all the students," he said. "What stands out is the dedication, effort and commitment they have all put in to their exams.
"The achievement has been across the board. We have had outstanding results at all levels so I'm delighted on behalf of the students, the staff – who have supported them so well – and the parents.
"There are a range of journeys that the young people have been upon and they have all achieved success in outstanding fashion. Again, it's testimony to the hard work and dedication from parents and staff.
"Pupils are now well-equipped to move onto further successes elsewhere – whether that be in further education or in employment."
For those that didn't achieve the results they were hoping, Vivienne Cross said that there is plenty of support available.
"The big thing for me is – if they haven't done well today it's OK," she said. "There's no wrong path and they need to take opportunities, get support and find their pathway, wherever it is they want to go."
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 and via social media @skillsdevscot.
The SQA candidate advice line can also be accessed on 0345 279 1000 or general advice may be accessed via their website, www.sqa.org.uk, and social media @sqanews.
Those young people requiring advice about university places should contact UCAS online on www.ucas.com, on social media or by phone on 0371 468 0468.
