PUPILS are celebrating their best ever National 5 results since the qualifications were introduced.

As youngsters nervously awaited SQA exam marks on Tuesday morning, West Dunbartonshire Council said their statistics showed a slight improvement to 99 per cent of pupils achieving one or more passes.

There were 1,366 pupils who sat Nat 5 exams, with 86 per cent getting one or more passes.

Out of a total of 925 students sitting Highers, 84 per cent achieved one or more passes and out of 159 Advanced Higher pupils, 78 per cent achieved one or more passes.

West Dunbartonshire is above the Scottish averages for Highers and Nat 5.

Nat 4 exams saw 94 per cent achieving one or more passes and Nat 3 was at 90 per cent.

A total of 2,117 pupils sat exams this year, up slightly from 2018 but below the number in 2017.

Council bosses pointed to strong pass rates in Nat 5 administration, computing, music and PE, with good results in music, administration and accounting Highers.

Read more: West Dunbartonshire council issues exam results advice

Councillor Karen Conaghan, convener of educational services, said: “It is very encouraging to see the progress made, in particular by the students who achieved record results in their National 5 exams.

“I’m pleased that our continuing and successful partnership working has enabled us to increase the range of courses and qualifications available to our young people to meet their needs and offer students the next step on their educational journey.

“As convener it is reassuring to see schools maintaining their consistently good performance. This reflects both the hard work of our pupils and the dedication of the teachers who support them.”

Councillor Ian Dickson, vice convener of educational services, added: “The progress being made at National 5 level will open up new opportunities for our pupils. I want to congratulate all of our pupils on their achievements this year in national qualifications and wish them every success in the future.”

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Laura Mason, chief education officer, said: “We are extremely proud of our pupils whose hard work throughout the year has seen them achieve positive results which will allow them to move onto the next stage of their education.”