Exam results improve in Glasgow schools as pupils performing “consistently better”

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Glasgow pupils are performing “consistently better” in their exams than their virtual comparator but results still remain below the national average according to a new report.

A document which is being presented to members of the education committee this afternoon shows that overall attainment in the city has improved between 2019 and 2023.

Figures show that the number of students achieving five or more SCQF level five awards by the end of S5 has risen from 49.2% in 2019 to 57.4% in 2023. 

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Glasgow’s virtual comparator, which is made up of pupils in other local authorities who have similar characteristics, saw a rise from 46.2% to 53.7% during the same period. 

Meanwhile the national average of pupils achieving five or more awards at SCQF level 5 rose from 59.6% in 2019 to 64.2% in 2023. 

Glasgow City Council has been working to close the attainment gap and, in March 2020, when schools were closed as a result of the covid pandemic, exams were also cancelled. 

The SQA engaged with stakeholders to develop a contingency plan to enable young people to gain accreditation for their achievements but following the publication of the results on 4th August by SQA, a decision was taken that these would revert to teacher estimates becoming the final award. New certificates were issued to pupils in early September 2020. 

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Figures now show that the number of S5 Glasgow pupils who achieved five or more SCQF level 6 awards rose from 16.1% to 20.6% between 2019 and 2020 compared with its virtual comparator which saw a slight increase from 13.3% and 16.5%. The national average sat at 22.1% in 2019 and rose to 25% in 2023. 

Meanwhile a table shows that the number of pupils who achieved five or more level six awards by the end of S6 rose from 28.5% to 33.6% compared to the national average of 35% and 38.5% between 2019 and 2023. 

Councillors are expected to discuss the figures this week and how it can continue to raise attainment. 

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