Commenting on SQA Exam Results in Dundee August 2015

I warmly congratulate pupils and students in Dundee on all their successes in their various SQA examinations and assessments. These successes, notified earlier today to every candidate, will not be a flash in the pan but will be based on learning over a sustained period of time. I also want to acknowledge the dedication and the inspiration of our teachers and the encouragement and support from parents and carers who have all have been part of the story behind these successes.

Currently only Scotland wide statistics are publicly available. There are many questions outstanding today which require some answers from the Director of Education such as:

• how do the results of our school pupils add up across the city?
• how do these city wide results compare with previous years?
• how did our pupils who sat the controversial Higher Maths paper get on and 
• what do these examination results indicate about the 'attainment gap' in Dundee schools?

But for today, the focus should be on celebrating the positive results of our pupils who deserve their day enjoying their successes. Well done!