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Information Note:
Selected Examination Results in Scottish Schools by Education Authority:
2000-2002

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These figures on the qualifications achieved by young people in Scottish Schools have been made available by the Scottish Executive Education Department ahead of the full publication of the examination results data on 27 November in order to document properly data prematurely released by a Scottish Local Authority in late October. A number of the figures that appeared prematurely in the Press were incorrect.

This note reports on the cumulative attainment by the end of each stage. For example, figures showing attainment by the end of S4 may include the results of Standard Grade or Intermediate courses completed by the same pupils when they were in S3.

The attainment figures for 2002 are pre-appeals. They are therefore not directly comparable to the figures for previous years, which are post-appeals.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is used as the basis for reporting attainment. The SCQF levels reported on in this note are shown below for information.

Sources

The figures include all secondary schools that present pupils for National Qualifications examinations. They do not include the achievements of pupils in special schools.

Data on National Qualifications, Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE) and Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS) qualifications were obtained from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). They do not take into account confirmed corrections to certification post 13 August 2002.

School roll figures were obtained from the Scottish Executive School Census as at September in the relevant year. Pupils entering or leaving the Education Authority after Census date who attain qualifications may affect the percentages given for examination attainment.

Candidate Stage data (i.e. S4, S5, S6) was obtained, for the majority, from schools' management information systems. Stage was otherwise estimated to within approximately 0.5% chance of error.

Definitions

Education Authority and National averages include publicly funded secondary schools only. They do not include independent or special schools.

The figures are affected by pupils who are presented for examinations at schools other than their own, or in Further Education colleges. This includes pupils from special schools who are presented for examinations at a different secondary school. Awards are credited to the presenting centre only.

Writing papers are due to be incorporated in revised Standard Grade examinations from 2003. Results for writing papers are not included in the counts.

Some schools make provision for pupils with special educational needs within their mainstream roll. These pupils can have a significant effect on the school's attainment pattern. However, the overall effect is heavily dependent on the number of pupils and the nature of their needs.

Notes

Examination results are an important indicator of performance, but not one that gives the full picture of a school. These results should be considered alongside other indicators of pupils' progress, such as the quality of the learning experience and the ethos of the school.

Sometimes differences in the patterns of results from year to year may be due to fluctuations in pupils' abilities in different year groups rather than to any underlying trend in school performance, particularly where relatively small numbers are concerned. Furthermore, as already stated, examination results for 2002 are pre-appeals whereas results for 2000 and 2001 are post-appeals.

Enquiries

Enquiries about the information contained in this Note should be addressed to David Cruickshank, Assistant Statistician, The Scottish Executive Education Department, Education and Children Statistics, Area 1-A West, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ. Telephone 0131 244 7976 or e-mail to: david.cruickshank@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Selected Examination Results in Scottish Schools by Local Authority 2000 - 2002