School pupils’ pass rates fall in Scotland for Highers and National 5s

Pupils at Lochgelly high school in Fife celebrating their results last year. Photograph: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty

Pass rates for Scottish pupils have fallen significantly after schools returned to using exams to grade performance for the first time since 2019.

This year’s results showed the overall pass rate for Highers, heavily used for students aiming for university, fell from 89.3% in 2020 to 78.9%. The pass rate for National 5s, awarded largely to 16-year-olds, fell from a peak of 89% in 2020 to 80.8%.