Encouraging Exam Improvements
02/09/26
Initial Qualification Scotland results are showing encouraging areas of improvement for pupils in the city.
The Children and Families Committee will hear that pupils sat a total of 17,113 exams, up from 16,428 last year, with provisional results showing positive progress against several measures.
Key highlights from the provisional exam data include:
S4 Data
57% of pupils achieved four or more awards at SCQF Level 5 or better, up from 56% last year
64% of S4 pupils achieved five or more National 4 awards (A-C), up from 59% in 2025
64% of S4 pupils achieved five or more National 4 awards (A-C), up from 59% in 2025
S5 Data
The proportion of S5 pupils achieving one or more awards at SCQF Level 6 increased from 46% to 49%
The proportion of S5 pupils achieving one or more awards at SCQF Level 6 increased from 46% to 49%
The proportion achieving five or more awards at SCQF Level 6 increased from 11% to 13%
S6 Data
23% of S6 pupils achieved one or more awards at SCQF Level 6 or above, up from 21% last year
23% of S6 pupils achieved one or more awards at SCQF Level 6 or above, up from 21% last year
16% of S6 pupils achieved at least one Advanced Higher, maintaining last year's strong performance
Children and Families Convener Stewart Hunter said: "These provisional results are encouraging and reflect the hard work of our young people, their families and teachers.
"While we are pleased to see positive progress being made, we acknowledge there are areas for improvement. We are committed to getting it right for our young people and we will be examining the data to inform improvement actions that will be implemented."
Alongside this report, the Children and Families Committee will also hear the latest follow-up leaver destination data. This report examines all school leavers who left publicly funded mainstream schools during the 2024/25 academic session and their outcomes approximately nine months after the end of the school year.
Dundee had 1,498 school leavers in the 2024/25 academic session, and 91.5% were in positive follow-up destinations. The majority of those in positive follow-up destinations were in education, employment or training.</p>
Councillor Hunter continued: "It is encouraging that most of our young people remain in positive destinations nine months after leaving school. However, we accept that there is still more to do.
"We will continue to work with schools, colleges, employers and the third sector to support our young people to remain in work, education or training in a way that suits them.
"We know the benefits that come from staying in school longer, and our schools will be strengthening links with young people who may be at risk of not achieving a positive destination and look at ways we can best support them."
The Qualification Scotland figures are considered provisional as appeals and late amendments are processed.
The Children and Families Committee will meet on Monday 7 September 2026.
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