Pass rates up as Orkney students receive exam results

Pupils across Orkney are today (Tuesday 5 August) receiving their examination results from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).   

The overall picture is positive, with Orkney pass rates above the rate for Scotland at all levels. 

National 5 pass rates are very positive, at 83.2%, a 4.8 percentage point rise compared to 2024.   This puts Orkney students 5.8 percentage points above the rate for Scotland, and ranking as 4^th by local authority.  

Higher pass rates have also risen, this time by 0.6 percentage points compared to 2024, to 75.2%.  

This puts Orkney 0.4 percentage points above the national pass rate and ranking 11th among Scottish Local Authorities. 

At Advanced Higher, the pass rate is unchanged from 2024 at 77.5%, whereas the national rate has fallen by 1.5 percentage points.  

Orkney now sits 3.7 percentage points above the rate for Scotland and ranks 7th among Local Authorities. 

Students who signed up for the SQA’s text or email results service should have received their results between 08:00 and 09:00 today.  

In addition, many young people completed courses at UHI Orkney alongside their school studies. This has seen students gain level 4, 5 and 6 qualifications equivalent to National 4, National 5 and Higher, providing  a valuable opportunity for young people to broaden their learning, build skills for employment and get a taste of what UHI Orkney may offer them for future study 

A more in-depth evaluation of the results of Senior Phase learners across Orkney is now underway and will be reported in due course.  

Gwenda Shearer, Orkney Islands Council’s Chair of the Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, said: “Today’s results – particularly the increased pass rates - are a real pleasure to see, and I wish to offer my hearty congratulations to all our learners and commend them on their commitment to their studies.   

“I would also recognise their families, teachers, lecturers and the wider school and college community who have supported them in what can of course be a daunting and stressful  - albeit rewarding - process.

“Their journeys of course do not stop here – some will be moving on to the next stage at school, on to further or higher education or even taking their first step into the employment market.  

“Here in Orkney our educators pay close attention to positive destinations – students who move on to careers, training, volunteering or further education – that is our ultimate goal: to ensure all our students are achieving a positive destination on their learning and life journeys. 

Orkney’s educators will continually review and respond to the needs of our young people as they set out on their journeys to ensure they achieve positive destinations. This process is at the core of ‘The Orkney Offer’ – which is to ensure all students have access to the right range of qualifications and have opportunities to develop skills to support them onwards.” 

There is lots of support available to learners in understanding results and planning next steps – more information is available here - Calling all senior students and parents – exam support dates for your diaries!