Five year trend shows drops in attainment levels for Nithsdale high school pupils

Five-year trend shows drops in attainment levels for Nithsdale high school pupils

A recent report reveals a concerning trend of declining attainment levels among high school students in Nithsdale over the past five years. The latest data on exam results for Nithsdale secondary schools in 2022/23 indicates a decrease of up to 10 percent in the proportion of S5 and S6 pupils achieving Highers or Advanced Highers.

The 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 percent of S5 pupils had obtained at least one Higher, but this figure dropped to 52.9 percent this year.

Fifth-year pupils achieving at least three Highers stood at 39.4 percent in 2020, falling to 33.1 percent in the latest report. Similarly, the rate of S5 pupils obtaining at least five Highers saw a slight decrease from 16.8 percent to 16.4 percent over the same period. For S6 students, the percentage of those gaining at least one Higher decreased by 9.5 percent from 2020 to the current year.

In 2020, 26 percent of S6 pupils in Nithsdale achieved at least one Advanced Higher qualification, but this figure dropped significantly to 15.9 percent in the latest data. These statistics are set to be presented to councillors at the Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Nithsdale Area Committee next week.

The decline in attainment levels may be partially attributed to disrupted learning and altered qualification arrangements during and after the pandemic. In 2020, due to lockdown measures, students were assessed internally by school teachers for National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher exams, potentially inflating some results.

Despite the overall five-year trend showing a decrease in qualifications for S5 and S6 students, there has been some improvement in year-on-year statistics for fifth-year pupils in 2024. The number of students achieving at least one Higher increased by 1.8 percent compared to the previous year, with higher percentages for those achieving three or more Highers and five or more Highers.

However, S6 pupils did not perform as well, with decreases ranging between 2.9 percent and 6.1 percent. While the data presents challenges, efforts are being made both nationally and locally to enhance attainment levels for all learners.

Insights:
This article highlights the concerning trend of decreasing attainment levels among high school students in Nithsdale over the past five years. The data indicates a need for increased support and interventions to address the decline in exam results, especially in Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications. The impact of disrupted learning due to the pandemic and changes in exam assessment methods have likely contributed to these challenges. Moving forward, a collaborative approach involving educators, policymakers, and communities will be vital in supporting student achievement and improving educational outcomes in Nithsdale.