Màiri McAllan celebrates record vocational qualifications and narrowing poverty attainment gap in Scottish exam results
Education Secretary Màiri McAllan praised the record number of vocational and technical qualifications achieved by Scottish students, noting that academic pass rates for National 5, Highers, and Advanced Highers have all increased. The administration announced that the poverty-related attainment gap between the most and least deprived areas has narrowed compared to both last year and pre-pandemic levels. Data from Qualifications Scotland shows that 120,485 vocational qualifications were awarded, a 9.1% increase over 2025. Additionally, Ucas reported a record number of 18-year-olds securing university places, with those from deprived areas reaching a record high. McAllan emphasized that the administration's commitment to free tuition ensures that access to higher education is based on ability rather than the ability to pay. While the Scottish Greens called for a shift toward continuous assessment, the Scottish Conservative MP Andrew Bowie noted that plummeting teacher numbers and school violence have created a challenging environment for pupils.