Perth Academy celebrates best exam performance in a decade

Oct 14 2011 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A PERTH school has enjoyed some of its best exam results in over a decade, it emerged yesterday.

Education chiefs praised pupils from Perth Academy after they scored highly in many subjects at Standard Grade Foundation, Higher and Advanced Higher level in the summer exams.

It follows concerted moves by the school’s staff designed to ensure that even their most vulnerable charges gain qualifications.

Every single pupil in the Academy’s S4 achieved five passes at Access 3 or Standard Grade Foundation level, reflecting the school’s commitment to students with additional needs.

Meanwhile, Higher figures for S5 pupils have been the best for 11 years.

The school’s computing department has continued to maintain its reputation as one of the best in Scotland, with outstanding Advanced Higher results achieved by the class of 2010/11 – namely nine As, nine Bs and a C.

More Advanced Highers have also been introduced at Perth Academy, in history and religious, moral and philosophical studies, bucking the national trend.

The school uses a range of strategies including mentoring, extensive study support, revision classes and intensive ‘immersion’ sessions before exams.

Early exam presentation in maths and English has been introduced for the most able S3 pupils, which has helped increase the pace and challenge of learning and enabled an early start to Higher courses in S4.

Other novel measures have included work experience, college placements, a nurture group and the school’s personal learning centre.

Perth Academy rector Andy Smith said: “We have success at many levels and this is based very much on high expectations and setting aspirational targets with our pupils.

“All of our staff play a huge part in this success and I am delighted to see the hard work of our pupils and staff recognised in this way.

“The parental partnership with school is equally important, and parents support us by attending raising attainment evenings and playing their part in the process.

“Each of our depute head teachers has a key role in raising attainment and our principal teachers have a clear focus on this area.”

Perth and Kinross Council’s lifelong learning convener Liz Grant said: “We want to see all our pupils achieve to their best, and the exam results for 2010/11 continue a trend of year-on-year improvement in key areas.

“As Perth Academy’s approach shows, schools are using a wide range of methods and strategies to help young people develop and improve their learning and get as much as possible from their education.

“This upward trend is something we will continue to focus on maintaining at all levels of learning for the benefit of young people now and in the future.”