- FOI requests reveal data for proportion of pupils rather than proportion of entries
- Only 40% of S4s pupils pass Nat 5 Maths
- 25% or fewer S4 pupils passing sciences; 75% S4 pupils passing English
- McConnell: Data is “very worrying”
The Commission on School Reform, the independent group of education experts set up by the think tank Reform Scotland, today releases “very worrying” Freedom of Information research which shows for the first time the ‘real’ pass rates for National 5 exams in Scotland.
The Commission has released a new report – Broken Stem– which analyses the SQA examination data based on the number of pupils in the cohort, rather than the number which sit the examination.
For example, if 100 pupils sit Nat 5 Maths and 90 pass, this would generate a pass rate of 90% and looks to be a positive result. However, if the total number of pupils was actually 200, and only 100 sit the exam, the overall proportion of the cohort gaining the qualification is only 45%, which looks far less positive.
The Commission’s research has revealed the ‘real’ data, which in the STEM subjects shows (for 2024) the pass rates for Nat5 are:
- 40.1% in mathematics
- 25.9% in biology
- 22.5% in chemistry
- 17.9% in physics
- 9.8% in computing science
The full paper, with data tables going back to 2015, can be read here.
Commenting, Carole Ford, former Headteacher of Kilmarnock Academy, former Principal Teacher of Maths, and member of the Commission on School Reform, said:
“This is some of the most important, if worrying, data that we have produced in recent years, and it offers a ‘real world’ perspective of how our pupils are doing.
“We knew from the 2023 PISA results – which showed a persistent decline – that our outcomes in maths and science were very poor, but this data lays bare that we have a mountain to climb.
“The research reiterates the case for the Commission’s call for an Office for School Education Data to oversee a new data programme, overseen by Parliament.”
Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, Chair of Reform Scotland, former First Minister of Scotland and former secondary school maths teacher added:
“It is very worrying that less than half of Scotland’s 16 year olds have this essential Maths qualification.
“If our economic future is to be based around industries like renewable energy and health sciences, improving our pass rates in mathematics and the sciences is a matter of critical national importance. The deficit in our STEM pass rates revealed by this research is not good enough.”