SQA Examination Results 2008
Once again Heriot's pupils have done themselves and their school proud in the annual SQA examinations, and congratulations are very much in order. We particularly applaud our S5 candidates on their outstanding Higher results, which were surpassed by the pupils of only three other schools in Scotland, placing Heriot's fourth in the country for S5 Highers, and ahead of all the schools in the Scottish cities.
The summary of Heriot's results from the 2008 SQA diet is as follows. Please note that these are pre-appeal figures and may change once the outcomes of appeals are known (if they do, it can only be upwards, as results are never downgraded by appeals).
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Total |
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S4 Standard Grade |
754 |
93.2% |
6.5% |
0.3% |
100% |
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Total |
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S4 Intermediate 2 |
550 |
83.6% |
10.5% |
3.6% |
97.8% |
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S5 Intermediate 2 |
31 |
22.6% |
48.4% |
25.9% |
96.8% |
|
S5 Higher |
692 |
53.9% |
25.7% |
14.3% |
93.9% |
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S6 Higher |
140 |
37.1% |
32.1% |
13.6% |
82.9% |
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S6 Advanced Higher |
263 |
40% |
32.7% |
19.8% |
92.4% |
In addition there were 11 S6 pupils who sat AS Level Film Studies; all passed, 10 of them with Grades A or B.
We would like to highlight the following aspects of the performance in each age group.
S4
It was another very good year for S4, with the overall results very much on a par with the strong record of the recent years, but with the added pleasure of increases in the Standard Grade 1-3 and Intermediate 2 A-C percentages (marginal, as these were already very high), and a significant increase in the proportion of Intermediate 2 presentations resulting in Grade A.
44 pupils in total, representing 26.5% of the cohort, each achieved top grades in all eight of their subjects (i.e. all Credit 1s or a mixture of Credit 1s and Grade As).
S5
In this, the benchmark year, the difference between this year's A-C percentage and last year's (94.1%) is absolutely marginal (the difference of merely two pass/fails), and the impressive proportion of presentations resulting in Grade A was cause for celebration. To have maintained the A-C percentage at or close to 94%, and amongst the very best in the country, for the fourth year in a row continues Heriot's excellent record at this level, and is once again a great testimony to consistency in the quality of learning and teaching in the School.
The average presentation rate was 4.4 Highers per pupil, and the average number of Highers achieved per pupil was 4.1, above the minimum number of Highers required for university entry in Scotland.
33 pupils, 22 boys and 11 girls, representing 21% of the cohort, each achieved five or six Grade As.
The compilation of exam results from all the Scottish independent schools provided by the Scottish Council of Independent Schools has revealed that Heriot's Highers results this year are surpassed by only three other schools in the country, all in rural locations and two of them much smaller schools than Heriot's, with smaller entries. Heriot's has come ahead of the city schools not only in Edinburgh but in all the other Scottish cities - a fine achievement.
A breakdown of the A-C pass rate by gender shows little difference on the main indicators between boys' and girls' performance - both genders have done very well indeed! The same analysis by gender shows that Heriot's boys and girls as separate cohorts surpassed their counterparts at all of the Scottish independent single-sex schools, girls and boys, which present for Highers.
S6
The A-C pass rate of 92.4% at Advanced Higher is only 0.4% below the best of the last six years - another fine achievement. 15 pupils, 9 boys and 6 girls, representing some 11% of the cohort, each achieved 3 or 4 As at Advanced Higher.
When our pupils have once again done so well, it is hard to find new words to congratulate them! My concluding remarks from last year remain true: we are very proud of our pupils and congratulate them on their fine results, which are a well deserved reward for their hard work and enthusiasm. The results are also a tribute to the first-class teaching and high degree of encouragement and support which the boys and girls have received from their teachers, and their parents/guardians, not only in the examination years but in all the preceding sessions as well.
Alistair Hector Headmaster August 2008