This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/aug/04/record-highers-pass-rate-concerns-scottish-qualification-snp-exams

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Record Highers pass rate triggers concerns about Scottish qualification Record Highers pass rate triggers concerns about Scottish qualification
(about 2 hours later)
A record number of Scottish teenagers have passed their Higher exams, prompting calls for SNP ministers to investigate whether the qualifications have been made easier.A record number of Scottish teenagers have passed their Higher exams, prompting calls for SNP ministers to investigate whether the qualifications have been made easier.
Overall there were a record 156,000 Higher passes – a 5.5% increase on 2014 – after the new-look exams were introduced this year as part of an overhaul of Scottish education called Curriculum for Excellence. Overall, there were 156,000 passes – a 5.5% increase on 2014 – after the new-look exams were introduced this year as part of an overhaul of Scottish education called Curriculum for Excellence.
Students who sat the old qualifications recorded an overall pass rate of 76.7%, slightly down on last year’s figure of 77.1%. Students who sat the old qualifications recorded an overall pass rate of 76.7%, slightly down on last year’s figure of 77.1%. Scotland’s exams body conceded that the new Higher maths exam “proved to be more demanding than intended”, with 70.8% of students attaining a C or better, compared with 73.1% who took the existing test.
Scotland’s exams body admitted that the new Higher maths exam “proved to be more demanding than intended”, with 70.8% of students attaining a C or better, compared with 73.1% who took the existing test. More than 14,000 students signed petitions in May criticised the “impossible” numeracy exam, but the Scottish Qualifications Authority sought to reassure students on Tuesday that grade boundaries would be lowered to account for this.
More than 14,000 students signed petitions in May criticised the “impossible” numeracy exam, but the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) sought to reassure students on Tuesday that grade boundaries would be lowered to account for this.
Scotland’s education secretary, Angela Constance, said students would get the “results they deserve”.Scotland’s education secretary, Angela Constance, said students would get the “results they deserve”.
“Despite the concerns it is clear that the qualification system has worked and if changes are needed going forward I can assure you that they certainly will be made,” she said on the Good Morning Scotland radio show.“Despite the concerns it is clear that the qualification system has worked and if changes are needed going forward I can assure you that they certainly will be made,” she said on the Good Morning Scotland radio show.
“I appreciate that there was a lot of activity on social media and a lot of people expressing their concerns but irrespective of these concerns, the SQA have these well established processes that first and foremost test the performance of the examine every year.”“I appreciate that there was a lot of activity on social media and a lot of people expressing their concerns but irrespective of these concerns, the SQA have these well established processes that first and foremost test the performance of the examine every year.”
Iain Gray, Scottish Labour’s education spokesman, congratulated students on the said the record figures but urged SNP ministers to address the concerns of teachers.Iain Gray, Scottish Labour’s education spokesman, congratulated students on the said the record figures but urged SNP ministers to address the concerns of teachers.
“The gap in attainment between the old and new Highers will raise questions too,” he said. “Analysis of the detail of the exam results will take time, and worries about the narrowing of the curriculum remain.” “The gap in attainment between the old and new Highers will raise questions too,” Gray said. “Analysis of the detail of the exam results will take time, and worries about the narrowing of the curriculum remain.”
Liz Smith, the Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman, said the biggest challenge in education was the “significant attainment gap between pupils from poorer and wealthier backgrounds”.Liz Smith, the Scottish Conservative young people spokeswoman, said the biggest challenge in education was the “significant attainment gap between pupils from poorer and wealthier backgrounds”.
She added: “The Scottish government has made great play in recent months about exam marking becoming ever more rigorous, yet, in English, at a time when there are concerns about literacy skills among school leavers, we learn that the English Higher pass rate has increased hugely.” She added: “The Scottish government has made great play in recent months about exam marking becoming ever more rigorous, yet, in English, at a time when there are concerns about literacy skills amongst school leavers, we learn that the English Higher pass rate has increased hugely.”
Overall, a total of 107,295 pupils sat the new Highers, with a pass rate of 79.2%.Overall, a total of 107,295 pupils sat the new Highers, with a pass rate of 79.2%.
A further 92,555 pupils sat the existing exams, recording a pass rate of 76.7%, slightly down on the 2014 pass rate of 77.1%. English passes were up 17.7% to 27,902 and modern languages passes increased by 15.2% to 7,419. A further 92,555 pupils sat the existing exams. English passes were up 17.7% to 27,902 and modern languages passes increased by 15.2% to 7,419.
The pass rate for the National 4 was 93.3%, with 114,173 passes, while pupils achieved 229,870 passes at National 5 level, resulting in a success rate of 79.8%.The pass rate for the National 4 was 93.3%, with 114,173 passes, while pupils achieved 229,870 passes at National 5 level, resulting in a success rate of 79.8%.
Advanced Higher passes increased by 4% to a record level of 18,899, with pass rate of 80.9%.Advanced Higher passes increased by 4% to a record level of 18,899, with pass rate of 80.9%.