Helensburgh and Lomond pupils praised for exam results

Argyll and Bute Council revealed that “the majority” of pupils across the area had gained the qualifications they were hoping for from the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

No breakdown has been provided by the council, with analysis of the results ongoing. A report will be presented at a later date to the community services committee, which next meets on Thursday, August 22.

But Lomond School already knows it has a pass rate of over 90 per cent at National 5 and Higher levels, smashing the local and national average.

The Helensburgh school had a pass rate of 96 per cent at National 5, while half of all Advanced Highers were achieved at A grade.

Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, the council’s policy lead for education and chair of the community services committee, said: “Pupils and teachers should be proud of their efforts and I would like to congratulate them all and thank them for their hard work.

“We are determined to do everything we can to ensure that our children and young people are given every opportunity to achieve success in their lives and to move onto positive destinations.

“Should any young person need further support or advice at this time direct contact can be made to their school.”

Meanwhile, Lomond also saw two thirds of all S5 pupils achieve five or more Highers, a third of them achieving them all at A grade.

The school’s class of 2019 will now progress to a range of destinations to study courses such as drama, English literature, architecture and games design.

Johanna Urquhart, principal of the school, said:  “I am, once again, thrilled with our results and this is a very special time for us as a school.

“We have an open presentation policy, and all at Lomond believe in offering our young people every chance of success.

“To us, exam passes are not about the statistics – though these are an important part of the improvement process – they are about the children, and the stories that go with them.

“Our teachers deliver excellent lessons and knowing our young people as well as we do we can nurture them towards achieving their very best.”

Nationally, the Higher pass rate fell, with 74.8 per cent of pupils across Scotland achieving an A to C grade, down on 76.8 per cent last year.

But the pass rate for National 5 English increased by over four per cent, and there was also a jump in passes for Maths at the same level.

Skills Development Scotland has a hotline giving advice to students, parents and carers now that the results have been published. It is open from 9am to 5pm until Wednesday, August 14, on 0808 100 8000.