Exam results day for pupils across the isles

Students across the isles have been receiving their exam results today, with more than 600 school pupils getting their results by text, email or post.

This year is the second year of the new National qualifications, brought in as part of the Curriculum for Excellence, and are usually taken in S4.

It is also the first year of the new Higher exams, which have been changed to better fit with the curriculum.

This year 93.1 per cent of local candidates passed National 4, compared to 92.9 per cent in 2014.

Eighty-two per cent of local candidates passed National 5, compared to 78.9 per cent last year.

A total of 79.8 per cent of candidates passed the new Higher.

Schools had been given permission, in certain circumstances, for one year only, to enter candidates for the old Higher qualification.

In Shetland there were 723 entries for the new higher, compared to 175 for the old, with 86.9 per cent passing the old higher.

In the new academic session in August, all schools will enter candidates for the new Higher qualification.

For many it has been a nervous wait for the postie and Aith Junior High School student Lindsay Garrick, 16, had been waiting patiently for the arrival of the post van.

Lindsay opened her envelope to find eight As in her National 5 exams.

The top grades were in admin and IT, art and design, biology, chemistry, English, French, history and maths.

She was happy the hard work had paid off and said there was a lot of studying involved.

“It’s what I was hoping for,” said Lindsay.

“I was hoping for As but I was expecting a couple of Bs.”

Lindsay said she will go on to take her higher qualifications and thanked the staff at the school for their support.

“The staff at the school have been fantastic with the effort they have put into study clubs and stuff like that,” she said.

The extra sessions helped her prepare for the exams and gave her the chance to ask questions during her studies.

And it was a special morning for her older brother Drew.

The Anderson High School pupil also had a special delivery, awaiting the results of his four advanced highers in French, physics, chemistry and maths.

Drew, 18, got As in French and physics and Bs in chemistry and maths.

“I’m delighted,” said Drew, who has a place at the University of Strathclyde to study a degree in mechanical engineering.

He thanked the staff at the Anderson High School for their support.

Proud parents Elizabeth and James were looking on as they opened their post.

“I’m very proud of them they have worked hard so they deserve it,” Elizabeth said.

“It’s been a bit tense around the house this morning.”

James, who is the depute head at Aith Junior High School said staff at the school were delighted with pupils’ achievements.

“The pupils have all achieved broadly in line with their work during the past year. Some have persevered and have excelled above their expectations,” he said.

All the youngsters had “moved on to sustainable destinations” and he said the staff wished them well for the future.

Meanwhile, Rhodri Hawkins had been up early to get his results, with the grades coming through on his laptop at about 6am.

Rhodri achieved 7 As and 1B in his National 5 exams.

He said he was worried about failing French but was happy to get a B grade.

His seven As were in business management, chemistry, English, geography, maths, music and physics.

He thanked the staff at the school, and the patience of his friends and family while he has been revising.

Rhrodri said he was looking forward to “winding down a bit over the holidays”.

“It’s given me lots of confidence going into highers,” he said.

Rhodri will be taking higher qualifications in English, maths, physics, chemistry and business.

Chairwoman of the SIC’s education and families committee, Vaila Wishart, said: “I am very pleased to see that Shetland’s excellent record of attainment in national qualifications continues.  I would like to congratulate all the candidates and their teachers.”