For the first time since 2019, young people from across Dumfries and Galloway were able to sit SQA exams in April and May.
The overall pass rate for National 5 exams locally was 93 per cent, the same as in 2019, and the measure of those achieving an A-C pass was up by one per cent from 2019 levels at 82 per cent.
At National 3 and National 4 levels, pass rates were 91 per cent and 81 per cent respectively.
In S5, the percentage of young people achieving at least one Higher was 54 per cent. The percentage achieving three or more Highers was 34 per cent and five or more was 13 per cent.
At S6, the percentage of young people achieving at least one Higher was 67 per cent, three or more Highers was 46 per cent and five or more was 31 per cent.
Young people in S6 achieving one or more passes at Advanced Higher level was up by around one per cent from pre-pandemic levels at 22 per cent.
Education bosses say the results “might indicate that these older young people were able to adapt successfully to the challenges of the pandemic and were able to combine learning and support in school along with self-directed study and increased digital support and provision to help them achieve success”.
Chair of Education and Learning Committee Cllr Richard Brodie, a former teacher, said: “It is extremely encouraging to see results back in line with the most recently competitive data we have – from 2019. That was the last time that our young people were in exam halls. Given that all our young people had their education interrupted as a result of the pandemic and had to adapt to new ways of learning, I am delighted that these results are consistent with those from the last time our young people sat exams.
“I am optimistic that our schools will be able to build on these positive results as they continue to deliver our recovery agenda.”
