VIDEO and PICTURES: SQA exam delight for Nairn Academy pupils as Highland shows "improved attainment" in several key areas set against a drop in the Scottish pass rate – headteacher Julie Macdonald praises pupils and staff for resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic
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There was joy for high-achieving pupils at Nairn Academy today as the secondary school reported positive overall SQA exam results.
Mirroring improved attainment across the Highlands in several key areas, the 651-pupil secondary school enjoyed particular success among its mathematics students.
An early crunching of results by Highland Council showed that, across the region, there was an increase in the numbers of S5 learners achieving one or more Higher awards.
Highland-wide, fourth year young people achieved the highest pass rate in the last three years for those attaining five or more National 5 qualifications.
Results in maths at the same level saw significant improvement in the Highlands from 2019, with 93 per cent of pupils achieving overall pass marks.
These trends were set against a complex national picture, with the Scottish exam pass rate for the first set of formal exams since the pandemic began dropping from the high witnessed in the two years of disruption.
At Higher level nationally, the number of pupils getting an A to C pass was 78.9%, down from 87.3% last year.
This was higher than the rate of 74.8% in 2019, the last year in which formal exams were sat across the country.
The pass rates for National 5 and Advanced Highers followed a similar pattern.
At Nairn Academy, headteacher Julie Macdonald was proud of the efforts of pupils and teachers, set against the great challenges of Covid-19, and delighted with the school's overall performance across the subjects.
“Given the last few years and the very different approaches to assessment, particularly for our S6s, our pupils have done remarkably well,” she said.
“They’ve been very resilient and shown great commitment and dedication, supported by staff and parents.
“A particular strength for us looking across all subjects has been our maths department. From 28 sitting Higher, we had 21 As. From Advanced Higher, we had seven sitting and five As.
“There’s great pockets of success across the whole school curriculum, but that is certainly one we’re delighted with.
“I won’t pretend it hasn’t been very difficult at times, especially when we've had whole year groups at home because we haven’t had enough staff.
“As difficult as it was for the junior year pupils, we prioritised S4, 5 and 6 to give them as much preparation as possible ahead of exams.
“We’re hopeful now that we’re moving back into a normal school experience for everyone, with all the fun things returning as well.”
We spoke to five Nairn Academy pupils who swept the board with straight As,
Anna Tennant (17) had only opened her results – As in Higher English, Geography, Human Biology, Maths and Physics - moments before speaking to us.
“I got a call asking me to come into school today to speak about my exam results, but they hadn’t actually come yet,” she explained
“My mum had to go out and chase down the postman in our street and I was straight into the car, so it is very fresh!
“I had a lot of absences this year, so it has been a lot of work and a lot of stress. I made some sacrifices, so I’m very proud of myself.
“It feels pretty unbelievable still. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
Anna and many of her fellow pupils were sitting formal exams for the first time given Covid, so had no previous experience of the discipline of the exam hall environment
“It felt very tense for my first one quite early on, very strange. I’d never before experienced having to sit down for three hours,” she said.
“With Covid, we had lots of skimming through certain work in our Nat 5s which we didn’t get time to do in detail.
“It was also quite isolating when we were away from people for so long. Then being thrown into our Highers was quite crazy.”
Anna will return for sixth year to sit Higher Chemistry and two Advanced Highers, but has a good idea what she would like to do with her qualifications.
“I’d love to go to university next year and study something in the biology realm - conservation, ecology or zoology,” she said.
“Studying at St Andrew’s would be special, because my granny Christine went there in the 1960s. The two of us went to St Andrew’s last year and walked around, and it was very nostalgic for her. It is a really lovely town.”
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Magnus Gunn (16) skipped from second year into fourth year last year and sat two Highers a year early to pave the way for more qualifications next year.
He was thrilled and relieved when his results showed five As - Higher Maths and English, and Nat 5 Drama, Geography and Biology.
“I got the results I was hoping for, although Maths was a bit of worry,” Magnus said. “Most of my time leading up to these exams was spent doing Maths so the hard work has paid off.
“Thank God I never have to do Maths again, although my Maths teacher may kill me if I don’t take Advanced Higher Maths!
“I’ve been considering studying genetics or possibly enlisting as an officer in the RAF.
“By doing well in my exams, I’ve kept my options open.”
Joe Elvines (16) got As in Higher Physics, Graphics, Design, Maths and Chemistry, with Physics the subject of concern and anxiety leading up to results day.
“I knew from Prelims and classwork I had the ability, it was just about making sure on the day of each exam I didn’t stress too much and let myself be affected,” he said.
“Coming out of the exams, I felt pretty good and confident on the basis of past papers, although Physics was a tough exam this year.
“Normally Physics is my best subject, but when I saw the A I was quite relieved!
“I’m staying on for sixth year to do Advanced Higher Maths and Physics because I want to do engineering at the University of Glasgow.
“It has stemmed from my love of motorsport, which I’ve been into since I was a kid wanting to be a racing driver.
“Realistically, I can’t become a driver, but through engineering I hope to work in the industry.
“Through that ambition, I have had the added motivation to do well in my exams.”
Anna Leo (15) picked up six As in Nat 5s and said: "I was nervous waiting for the results, but today it just felt so good to see that I’d achieved what I hoped for - and get it over and done with!
“I was just at home by myself and the text with the results was the first thing I saw when I woke up.
“It was a lot of hard work, but these results give me confidence going into my Highers next year.
“I’d like to progress to study medicine at St Andrews University.”
Harriet Lyons (16) also picked up six As in her Nat 5s and added: "I hadn’t expected As in everything, so I'm thrilled.
“I knew English would be difficult, so I’m particularly delighted with that.
“Being our first real exams, it was difficult for a lot of us but I know the SQA did work in making it better for us.
"I'm hoping to do well next year and pursue a career involving art."
