Scotland reporter

THE Scottish government is getting its sums wrong on National 5 pass-rates for S4 pupils, according to an independent think tank.

While Scottish government data only looks at percentage A-C passes for those who sat the exams, new analysis from the Commission on School Reform included pupils who had done the course but not the exam.

Using that methodology, the pass-rate was just 22.2 per cent in chemistry, 17.8 per cent in physics and 9.8 per cent in computer science, and 39.5 per cent in maths.

Commission member Carole Ford, a former maths teacher and headteacher, said: “We are used to hearing from the authorities that attainment is rising and rising, but this is real and full data which presents a contrary picture.

“We are in real danger, in Scotland, of using highly selective data to sweep the realities of school performance under the carpet. 

“We must stop, now.”

Pointing to Programme for International Student Assessment results showing Scotland’s score in maths and science falling from 498 in 2012 to 471 in 2022, just below the OECD average, commission member and professor emeritus of education policy, Lindsay Paterson added: “The Scottish decline was equivalent to about 16 months of schooling in mathematics, eight months in reading, and 18 months in science. 

“I reiterate the commission’s call for an Office for School Education Data to oversee a new data programme, answerable to Parliament and independent of government.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “If the position was as the commission claims, we would share its concern.

“However, not all pupils take their National 5s in S4.

“The mathematics pass rates at National 5 and Higher have increased from 2019 and 2024.”