Hermitage Academy’s Higher pass rate has risen for a second year, new figures have revealed.
A report has shown that the percentage of Higher passes at A to C at the Helensburgh school has risen from 88.3% in 2020 to 89.9%.
The 2020 figure was itself an improvement of over 10% on 2019.
The National 4 pass rate has remained at 100%, a figure which for the fifth year in a row, applies for all 10 secondary schools run by Argyll and Bute Council.
Of the ten high schools in Argyll and Bute, the average Higher pass rate was 90.15%, with schools in Campbeltown, Dunoon, Islay, Lochgilphead, Tarbert and Tobermory all having higher pass rates than Hermitage’s.
The Helensburgh school’s figure is above the national average of 87.3% however.
National 5 and Advanced Higher rates at Hermitage have seen small year-on-year decreases.
The National 5 rate has gone from 91.3% to 90.3%, while the Advanced Higher figure has gone from 94.7% to 93.1%.
But a senior council official has insisted that nothing can be read into the different pass rates for 2021 and 2020 because the way in which grades were awarded in the two years is so different.
As a whole, the council’s 10 secondary schools returned pass rates that were above the national average when results were released last week.
A breakdown of results has been made available for a meeting of the authority’s community services committee next Wednesday.
For the second year running, no exams were held due to the Covid-19pandemic, with grades awarded based on teacher estimates and previous evidence.
Council executive director Douglas Hendry said in the report: “Following the cancellation of the formal SQA (Scottish Qualifications Authority) examination diet due to Covid-19 schools submitted provisional results relating to each presentation and level made on behalf of each young person.
“The SQA also developed an appeals process for any young person unhappy with their provisional result(s).
“The 2021 presentation pass rates at both school and authority level cannot be used for comparison with previous years’ outcomes as the method of awarding grades is completely different.”
Mr Hendry added: “Our young people have the opportunity to be presented at different levels throughout their chosen senior phase pathway.
“This means a young person can undertake subjects at different levels of qualifications e.g. two Advanced Highers, two Highers and one National 5. Therefore, the outcomes include young people across S4, S5 and S6.
“Any young person that was unhappy with their provisional results could appeal directly to the SQA on their website.
“The registration service for appeals opened on Friday, June 25 and closed on Thursday, August 12. Appeals were processed by the SQA after results day on Tuesday, August 10.”
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