BLAIR DINGWALL
The exam successes of Aberdeenshire school pupils will be highlighted by councillors next week.
The performance of every school in the region has improved with a 5% increase in S5 candidates achieving three or more Highers.
A rise in the number of pupils getting the highest possible grades in one sitting was also recorded.
This summer, 94 S5 students collected five A-grade Highers – compared to 81 in 2014.
Aberdeenshire Council’s education, learning and leisure committee will discuss the results at its next meeting on Thursday.
Youngsters across the region passed 6,534 Higher exams this year – a 5.49% increase on 2014.
Fifth-year pupils at Mintlaw Academy achieved a 14% rise in Higher passes with a 12% increase at Ellon Academy.
Fifth year pupils at Banchory, Meldrum and Peterhead academies also recorded an 8% increase.
The Gordon Schools at Huntly and academy pupils at Turriff, Kemnay, Mearns, Mackie, Inverurie, Banff and Fraserburgh all achieved improvements in the school pass rates for National-5 and Higher awards.
Alford Academy recorded a significant increase in pass rates, with 15% more S4 pupils obtaining National-5 awards than last year.
Westhill Academy achieved a 10% rise in passes at that level with a 9% rise at Portlethen.
The performance of Aberdeenshire’s special schools – Anna Ritchie in Peterhead, Carronhill in Stonehaven, St Andrew’s in Inverurie, and Westfield in Fraserburgh- was also strong.