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Helen Liddell calls for further rises in examination results
26/11/1998
Scottish Education Minister Helen Liddell welcomed today a strong rise in exam passes, but stressed that a drive to raise standards further was at the heart of the Government's agenda on education.
Mrs Liddell said:
"The publication of this report provides important information for parents and the public on a major aspect of school performance. Education remains the Government's number one priority, and the information in the report should be seen in the context of a range of Government initiatives to raise standards in Scotland's schools.
"Once again attainment at Standard Grade has risen, and though there has not been the same rise in Higher Grade, performance there remains consistent. I would like to pay tribute to the professional commitment throughout the system that has made this possible. We must all act together to push standards even higher over the next few years. All secondary schools will have set three year targets to achieve even better examination results under the Raising Standards - Setting Targets initiative. I look forward to commenting in subsequent years on the national progress towards these targets."
HM Senior Chief Inspector, Mr Osler said:
"This publication is important in showing the national level of school performance in examinations. The information it contains is useful in helping schools work to raise standards. Parents should bear in mind that other factors such as the quality of learning and teaching, an ethos of achievement and the quality of leadership should be taken into account in judging the quality of education in any school.
"We have therefore published today the leaflet "How Good are our Results?". This is the second year that this information for parents and schools has been published. It provides a detailed analysis, subject by subject, of a school's examination results, shows the 'value added' by schools between Standard Grade and Higher Grade, and makes like for like comparisons of subject departments' performance within schools. Each school and School Board will receive copies of the information as it relates to their school, and schools and councils are encouraged to engage in discussions with parents about it."
BACKGROUND
1. HM Inspectors of Schools' Audit Unit publishes information on examination results for each Scottish secondary school. Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1996-98 lists the percentage of pupils:
· gaining five or more Standards Grades at Credit level, General level or better, and Foundation level or better;
· in S3/S4 gaining one or more National Certificate modules;
· in S5 gaining one or more, three or more and five or more Higher Grades at Bands A-C;
· in S5/S6 gaining one or more, and three or more National Certificate modules; and
· in S6 gaining two or more Higher Grades at Bands A-C and one or more Certificate of Sixth Year Studies at Bands A-C.
The results are set out for each of the years 1996, 1997 and 1998. Secondary schools are listed alphabetically within education authority. Independent and other schools are listed separately. Copies of the report are being made available to all School Boards, Headteachers of secondary schools and to a wide range of educational interests.
2. Media copies of Examination Results in Scottish Schools 1996-98 and How Good Are Our Results can be obtained by contacting the number at the end of theis release.
3. How Good Are Our Results? is produced by the Audit Unit of HM Inspectors of Schools for use by individual schools in reporting subject level information to parents. This is important information in evaluating the school's performance. Each school has received a copy of the booklet along with three charts containing subject level information for their schools.
The charts show:
· The value-added between S4 and S5 for each Higher Grade subject for which the school enters ten or more pupils;
· The relative ratings for each Standard Grade subject taken in S4, for which the school enters ten or more pupils; and
· The relative ratings for each Higher Grade subject taken in S5/S6 for which the schools enters ten or more pupils.
Value added is used to compare the progress pupils made between Standard Grade in S4 and Higher Grade in S5 in a school, with the progress made between S4 and S5 by all other pupils in Scotland. By measuring progress, value added takes account of prior attainment of pupils, and therefore provides a useful method for comparing departments against the national average.
Relative rating is used to compare examination results in one subject with the results in other subjects within a school. Its show whether the examination results achieved by pupils in a given subject are better or worse that their other examination results, after allowing for the difficulty of the subjects nationally.
The charts show information for each of the years 1996, 1997 and 1998.
This year Headteachers have been asked to take part in a voluntary survey on how they are distributing the information to parents. Copies of the booklet have also been sent to education authorities and School Boards.
News Release: 2454/98
25 November 1998