Scottish pupils have achieved record National 5 pass levels, with overall pass rates for National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher also increasing, according to new figures.
Almost 270,000 pupils secured a passing grade at National 5, up from approximately 262,000 last year.
Pass rates across all levels improved to 79.2 per cent for National 5, 76.7 per cent for Higher, and 77.6 per cent for Advanced Higher.
The proportion of students achieving an A grade also rose for National 5 (40.3 per cent) and Higher (20.9 per cent), though it fell for Advanced Higher to 30.9 per cent.
Scotland’s Education Secretary, Mairi McAllan, described the outcomes as “incredibly positive”.
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She said: “This is a proud day for Scotland’s young people and our education system.
“My congratulations go to everyone receiving their results. I know how much hard work and resilience it takes to get here, and you all deserve enormous credit.
“These are incredibly positive results across the board, with academic passes up at every level – National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher – as well as record numbers of vocational qualifications.
“This is testament to the breadth and strength of Scotland’s education system, the professionalism of our teachers and school staff, and the hard work of our young people.
“It is particularly pleasing to see another narrowing in the attainment gap between the most and least deprived areas.
“This builds on similar progress in the gaps for literacy and numeracy levels, as well as for the number of young people entering initial positive destinations, which has narrowed by almost two-thirds since 2009-10.
“This is welcome progress, but we will not be complacent and will continue to do all we can to close the poverty-related attainment gap even further, having empowered headteachers and invested £1.75 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the past decade, with up to £200 million being invested this year as well.”
