News Release
School Attainment in Scotland: 1999-00
31 July 2001A Scottish Executive National Statistics Publication This document is also available in pdf format (112k) Information about the qualifications achieved by young people at school in
Scotland is today published by the Scottish Executive Education Department.
The information covers the attainment of National Qualifications (Standard
Grade, Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2 and Higher), Scottish Certificate of Education
Higher Grade, and Certificate of Sixth Year Studies. The tables include information
on qualifications achieved by school sector (publicly funded or independent),
by subject, and by gender. The News Release and accompanying tables can be found on the Scottish Executive
Web Site : www.scotland.gov.uk The main findings are: -
- In 1999-00, the percentage of S4 pupils gaining 5 or more Standard Grades
at 1-2 and 1-4 remained the same as the previous year at 34 per cent and 76
per cent respectively. (Table 1)
- A greater percentage of girls than boys gained 5 or more Standard Grades
at all grades in S4 in 1999-00. The gender differences have remained about
the same as previous years at grades 1-2 (29 per cent for boys and 40 per
cent for girls in 1999-00), but have decreased at grades 1-4 giving a difference
of 73 per cent of boys and 79 per cent of girls in 1999-00 (compared with
69 per cent of boys and 78 per cent of girls in 1996-97). (Table 2)
- In the first year of Intermediate 1 and 2, around 7 per cent of the S4 cohort
(in the previous year) gained one or more Intermediate 1 qualifications and
around 22 per cent gained one or more Intermediate 2 qualifications in S5.
Around 1 per cent of the S4 cohort (two years previous) gained one or more
Intermediate 1 qualifications and around 6 per cent gained one or more Intermediate
2 qualifications in S6. (Table 3)
- The percentage of the S4 cohort (in the previous year) who achieved 3 or
more Higher passes in S5 rose from 23 per cent in 1998-99 to 25 per cent in
1999-00. There was a similar increase from 8 per cent to 10 per cent for those
gaining 5 or more Highers in 1999-00. The figures combine the results for
National Qualification Highers and SCE Higher Grades. (Table 4)
- More girls than boys gained 3 or more and 5 or more Highers in S5 between
1996-97 and 1999-00. (Table 5)
- The percentage of S4 pupils gaining qualifications in S6 has remained steady
at around 30 per cent for one or more Highers and 11 per cent for one or more
CSYS. (Table 6)
- Intermediate 1 and 2 courses introduced a range of subject choices not previously
available. More pupils participated in Intermediate 2 than Intermediate 1
courses. Mathematics followed by English and Communication were the most popular
subjects amongst S5 pupils at both Intermediate 1 and 2 levels. For S6 pupils,
the most popular subjects were Home Economics - Health and Food Technology
followed by Accounting and Finance at Intermediate 1 level, and Mathematics
followed by Hospitality - Practical Cookery at Intermediate 2 level. (Tables
11 and 12)
- The percentage of the S4 roll gaining Higher passes in S5 in Physical Education
rose from 0.5 per cent in 1993-94 to 2.0 per cent in 1999-00. There were similar
increases in Drama, Graphic Communication and Human Biology. Over the same
time period, there was a decrease in the percentage of the S4 roll gaining
Higher passes in Physics, Chemistry and Biology in S5. (Table 13)
TABLES
Table 1: Standard Grade qualifications by school
sector for S4 pupils: 1992-93 to 1999-00.
Table 2: Standard Grade qualifications by school
sector and gender for S4 pupils: 1996-97 to 1999-00.
Table 3: Intermediate 1 and 2 qualifications
by school sector for S5 & S6 pupils: 1999-00.
Table 4: Higher qualifications by school sector
for S5 pupils: 1992-93 to 1999-00.
Table 5: Higher qualifications by school sector
and gender for S5 pupils: 1996-97 to 1999-00.
Table 6: Higher & CSYS qualifications by school
sector for S6 pupils: 1996-97 to 1999-00.
Table 7: Higher & CSYS qualifications by school
sector and gender for S6 pupils: 1996-97 to 1999-00.
Table 8: Standard Grade qualifications by subject
for S4 pupils: 1993-94 to 1999-00.
Table 9: Standard Grade qualifications by subject
for S4 pupils: 1999-00.
Table 10: Standard Grade qualifications by subject
and gender for S4 pupils: 1999-00.
Table 11: Intermediate 1 qualifications by subject
and gender for S5 and S6 pupils: 1999-00.
Table 12: Intermediate 2 qualifications by subject
and gender for S5 and S6 pupils: 1999-00.
Table 13: Higher qualifications by subject for
S5 pupils: 1993-94 to 1999-00.
Table 14: Higher qualifications by subject for
S5 pupils: 1999-00.
Table 15: Higher qualifications by subject and
gender for S5 pupils: 1999-00. NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
- Sources
- The tables in this News Release show the attainment of pupils in all publicly
funded and independent secondary schools in Scotland (including special
schools).
- Publicly funded secondary schools include education authority, grant-aided
and self-governing schools.
- Data on National Qualifications, Scottish Certificate of Education (SCE)
and Certificate of Sixth Year Studies (CSYS) qualifications are obtained
from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).
- Many independent schools offer O level and A level examinations, which
are not included in these tables. It should be noted, therefore, that the
percentage of school roll gaining qualifications in independent schools
may not accurately reflect the achievement of pupils in these schools.
- School roll figures were obtained from the Scottish Executive School Census
as at September in the relevant year. Roll figures have been available by
gender from 1996-97.
- Definitions
- Standard Grade is certificated at 3 levels: Credit (grades 1 and 2), General
(grades 3 and 4), Foundation (grades 5 and 6) with a grade 7 being awarded
to those who complete the course only.
- New National Qualifications (Intermediate 1, Intermediate 2 and Higher)
were introduced in 1999-00. Courses are made up of units and an examination.
Courses are awarded at levels A-C. Awards at levels A-C are regarded as
passes. Pupils who pass the examination but are not registered as passing
all the units are included in the number of presentations (but not as a
pass). Those who narrowly fail to achieve the required standard for Intermediate
2 are awarded a compensatory Intermediate 1 qualification. Those who narrowly
fail to achieve the required standard for Higher are awarded a compensatory
Intermediate 2 qualification. In these tables, compensatory awards are counted
at the level in which the pupil was presented. For example, a candidate
presented for a Higher but who receives a compensatory Intermediate 2 award
would be included as a Higher presentation (but not as a pass) and would
not feature as an Intermediate 2 presentation or pass.
- SCE Higher Grades are awarded at levels A-D. Awards at levels A-C are
regarded as a pass.
- CSYS courses are awarded at levels A-E. Awards at levels A-C are regarded
as a pass.
- The following symbols have been used:
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. .
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not available
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-
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nil or less than half the final digit
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*
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not applicable
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- 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. - Enquiries
- Public enquiries (non-media) about the information contained in this News
Release should be addressed to Laura Beahan, 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: laura.beahan@scotland.gov.uk.
- Media enquiries about the information in this News Release should be addressed
to Fiona Wilson (0131) 244 2910
News Release: SE 1791/2001
31 Jul 2001
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