Rise In Pupils Sitting Highers

More fifth and sixth years are being put forward to sit highers this year - but most are studying the old version of the exams.

The Scottish government says the fact just under 11,000 more pupils are sitting them is proof the roll out of the Curriculum for Excellence is progressing well.

Unions and teaching staff persuaded the Scottish Government to allow schools to use discretion and decide when to introduce new qualifications, rather than having to implement them immediately.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan says that's worked:

Education Secretary Angela Constance Constance said the reforms are preparing young people for the world of work and further and higher education. 

She said: "Scottish education now offers more flexible learning opportunities for our young people and new National qualifications, which were introduced at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year, are now well established.

“In August last year we saw a substantial increase in the number of both Higher entries and Higher passes. I am very pleased that we are again seeing a substantial interest in provisional entries for Higher. It is very positive to see greater numbers of young people aspiring to higher levels of qualifications in our schools.

“This shows that ambition, more than ever, is alive and well in classrooms across Scotland, in no small part thanks to the work of teachers who continue to do an excellent job. This bodes well for Scotland’s economic future.

“We know from provisional entry data from the Scottish Qualifications Authority that significant numbers of those pupils taking Highers this year have been studying the new Highers. We listened to schools who requested flexibility, and we acted. I have seen today how schools are making good use of this flexibility, to phase in the new qualifications in a sensible way."