A recent report has indicated a concerning trend in attainment levels among high school pupils in Nithsdale over the past five years. The data, focusing on exam results for Nithsdale secondary schools in 2022/23, reveals a decrease of up to 10 per cent in the proportion of S5 and S6 pupils achieving Highers or Advanced Highers.
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) attainment report highlights the performance of secondary schools in Nithsdale, including Dumfries Academy, Dumfries High, North West Community Campus, Wallace Hall Academy, Sanquhar Academy, and St Joseph’s College. In 2020, 58.9 per cent of S5 pupils had acquired at least one Higher, whereas this year saw a decline to 52.9 per cent.
Fifth year students attaining at least three Highers dropped from 39.4 per cent in 2020 to 33.1 per cent presently. Similarly, the percentage of S5 pupils achieving five or more Highers dipped slightly from 16.8 per cent to 16.4 per cent during the same period. For S6 pupils, the report indicates a decrease in attainment levels, with 69.6 per cent gaining at least one Higher in 2020, falling by 9.5 per cent this year.
Moreover, the number of S6 pupils achieving at least one Advanced Higher qualification decreased from 26 per cent in 2020 to 15.9 per cent in the current year. These statistics paint a sobering picture for councillors at Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Nithsdale Area Committee.
The decline in attainment levels may be partially attributed to disruptions in learning and revised qualification arrangements during and after the pandemic. Notably, the 2020 exam arrangements involved internal assessments by school teachers due to lockdown restrictions, potentially inflating some results.
Despite the five-year downward trend, there is a ray of hope in the year-on-year statistics for fifth year pupils in 2024, showing improvement in Higher attainment levels. While there was an increase in the number of pupils gaining at least one Higher and three Highers, S6 pupils saw a decrease in their attainment rates this year.
In conclusion, the report underlines the importance of addressing the challenges faced in education during unprecedented times to ensure continued improvement in attainment levels for high school pupils in Nithsdale. Efforts to support and enhance learning outcomes remain crucial in shaping the academic success of students in the region.