INVERCLYDE learners are celebrating success in the 2026 exam results with improvements recorded in most key areas.
A total of 2,340 candidates are today receiving their results from Qualifications Scotland with pass rates up at Advanced Higher, Higher and National 5 levels.
Fourth Year candidates have performed particularly well with a National 5 overall pass rate of 91.86 per cent — up from last year’s record high of 90.8 per cent.
The pass rate at Highers also improved at 90.3 per cent compared with 88.3 per cent in 2025.
Meanwhile, the success rate for Advanced Highers is 85 per cent, which is up from last year’s 81.5 per cent.
Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s education convener, said: “It is good to see the improvements on last year’s results, reflecting a great deal of hard work by pupils, their families and the staff in our schools.
“Well done to everyone who sat exams and completed assessments during the last term, but it is a culmination of years of effort and determination from all involved, particularly the learners themselves, and they deserve so much credit for what they have achieved.”
Some of the other key highlights include 67.5 per cent of Fifth Year pupils gaining at least one Higher, an increase on the 65 per cent from last year.
The number of Fifth Year students who achieved at least three Highers was 42.6 per cent, up from 41 per cent 12 months ago.
More than a fifth of students (21 per cent) secured five Highers, an increase from the 2025 figure of 18 per cent.
In National 5s, 59 per cent of all pupils achieved five passes before the end of Fourth Year, increasing from 53 per cent in 2025.
Around a fifth (21.35 per cent) of candidates gained an Advanced Higher during Sixth Year, which was broadly similar to 2025 (22 per cent).
The results published today cover Levels 5, 6 and 7 (National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher) but a number of young people also completed courses at Levels 2, 3 and 4 which are internally assessed, along with a number who achieved qualifications at college.
Councillor Clocherty said: “Of course it is important that our young people do well in their exams, but it is also important to remember that exams results are just one measure of success.
“The curriculum is so diverse nowadays allowing for pupils to complete college and vocational courses, which are more tailored towards the types of careers they want to pursue after school.
“While there is much cause for celebration today, we need to be mindful that there will be those who are perhaps disappointed with their results but please remember that there is no right or wrong path to reaching your goals.
“Support is available directly from schools and through the national Results Helpline run by Skills Development Scotland for any students or parents who are concerned about results.”
