West Dunbartonshire Secondary pupils achieving higher than national average grades

Published 19 September 2025

Pupils at West Dunbartonshire Secondary Schools are achieving higher than the national average in National 4 and 5 and Advanced Higher levels.

And the young people at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School are outperforming the national average at National 4, 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

A report to the Educational Services Committee informed members that across West Dunbartonshire, 2,182 young people sat 9,912 qualifications across National 2 to Advanced Higher with an 83 percent pass rate.

The report also highlights the strong improvement in exam results over the past eleven years, with steady increase across the board in the last year. Advanced Higher passes were up by 14.2 percent; Higher improved by 3 percent; National 5 up by 2.6 percent and National 4 increased 13.1 percent.

This year pupils achieved the area’s best results since 2022 with a record 77 per cent of pupils achieving a pass in Advanced Highers. And an increase in the number of pupils achieving Highers up from 72 percent to 75.

The report also shows an increase in the number of pupils passing National 4 with an increase of 34 percent at Saint Peter the Apostle and a six percent jump for Our Lady and Saint Patrick meaning 100 percent pass rates for all secondary schools with Clydebank High, Dumbarton Academy and Vale of Leven Academy all maintaining 100 percent pass rates for National 4.  

Councillor Clare Steel, Convener of Educational Services, said: “It is very pleasing to see that exam performance has steadily improved and is now at its highest level for eleven years. These statistics show the commitment of our young people and their families in helping pupils leave school better qualified. I would like to thank all our school for their part in encouraging and supporting our young people through their education and on to the next stage in their educational journey, whether that be further education, employment or training.”

Councillor John Millar, Vice Convener of Educational Services, said: “I am pleased to see this trend of strong exam results over the last decade which reflects how hard our pupils, teachers and extended school employees have worked to achieve these impressive statistics. It is also encouraging to see our young people are performing and achieving above the national average, which is to be commended.”