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News Release

Scottish School Leavers and their qualifications: 2000-01

A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication

16 July 2002

This document is also available in pdf format (52k)

The Scottish Executive Education Department has today published information about Scottish school leavers and their qualifications.

This News Release includes information on the qualifications of school leavers by school sector, subject and gender. The tables cover the attainment of National Qualifications at Standard Grade, Higher and Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS) and also the new National Qualifications at Access, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2, Higher and Advanced Higher. These tables are presented using the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Levels.

The News Release and accompanying tables can be found on the Scottish Executive Web Site: www.scotland.gov.uk

The main findings are: -

• In 2000-01, 5.7 per cent of leavers from publicly funded schools obtained no award at SCQF Level 3 or better. Passes at SCQF Level 7 were obtained by 10.7 per cent of leavers from publicly funded schools. ( Table 1)
• The percentage of leavers from publicly funded schools who attained 5 or more awards at Level 5 (or better) has increased from 39.5 per cent in 1998-99 to 43.6 per cent in 2000-01. ( Table 2)
• A higher proportion of females than males leaving publicly funded schools achieved passes at all Levels, except three or more passes at Level 7. These were attained by 1 per cent of males, compared to 0.7 per cent of females. ( Table 2)
• Ninety one percent of school leavers in 2000-01 attained Mathematics at SCQF Level 3 to 5. The same percentage attained English at SCQF Level 3 to 5. ( Table 3)
• A greater proportion of females attained passes in Biology, Office and Information Studies and language subjects. More males left with qualifications in Geography, Computing Studies and Physical Education. (Tables 3 and 4)

The following tables are available:

Table 1: Highest qualifications attained by school leavers, by gender and school sector: 1998-99 to 2000-01

Table 2: Total qualifications attained by school leavers, by gender and school sector: 1998-99 to 2000-01

Table 3: Qualifications at SCQF levels 3 to 5, by subject and gender: 2000-01

Table 4: Qualifications at SCQF levels 6 and 7, by subject and gender: 2000-01

NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS

1. National Statistics Statement

This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

2. Data Sources

2.1 The tables in this News Release show the qualifications of school leavers in all schools in Scotland. It does not include information on examination attainment in further education colleges.

2.2 Information on school leavers is collected from individual schools via either a paper return or electronic data exchange. Whilst these figures are the best that the schools are able to provide at the time, there will be cases where a pupil unexpectedly returns to school. Therefore, the figures for the latest year are likely to be slight over-estimates and may be revised downwards in the future.

2.3 Details of the leavers' National Qualifications are added by computer matching to the records obtained from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). This process achieves a high rate of successful linkage, but in a small number of cases mis-matching or non-matching can occur.

2.4 Many independent schools offer GCSE and A level examinations, which are not included in this analysis. It should be noted, therefore, that the percentage of leavers gaining qualifications in independent schools might not accurately reflect the achievements of pupils in these schools.

3. Definitions

3.1 The table below sets out the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels and the read across to the National Qualification level and grades.

3.2 Publicly Funded Schools include education authority, grant-aided, and self-governing schools.

3.3 The arrangements for leaving school were laid down in the Education (Scotland) Act in 1976 and the Education (Scotland) Act 1980. Pupils are regarded as having left on achieving the school leaving age in 2000-2001 if they either

a) reach the age of 16 between 1 March and 30 September 2001 and left school at the end of the school year or;

b) reach the age of 16 between 1 October 2000 and the end of February 2001 and left school at the end of the Winter term.

These arrangements therefore allow some pupils to leave school while they are still 15 years old.

4. Enquiries

Copies of all tables are available on the Scottish Executive's website at www.scotland.gov.uk. Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Emma Waddington, Statistician, The Scottish Executive Education Department, Education Statistics, Area 1-A West, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 0303 or e-mail to: emma.waddington@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should be addressed to Julie Grant, 0131 244 3070.

News Release: Internet -www.scotland.gov.uk

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