Pupils at Peebles High School cemented their position in Scotland’s top class as examination results were released.

The comprehensive school which educates 1,500 Tweeddale youngsters improved on last year’s record-breaking feats to leave it on the verge of the top 10 for academic achievement.

Fifty-nine per cent of S4 students attained a minimum of five N5 examinations - a one per cent improvement on last year - while 32 per cent of the S5 pupils attained five Highers, beating the previous year’s figure by four per cent.

In S6, last year’s year’s record-breaking group of students kept up their good work with 48 per cent of students in that group leaving with five Highers - compared to 46 per cent 12 months ago - the best result in the Borders.

Rector Campbell Wilson told the Peeblesshire News: “The change to the national qualification has been a big challenge. We know the standards are as rigorous as ever and we are very proud at how prepared our students were.

“This could very well put Peebles in or very close to the top 10 in Scotland. Overall 99 per cent of students in S6 will leave school with at least five qualifications, a fantastic outcome.

“We’d like to say a huge 'well done’ to the young people at Peebles on their achievements and to thank every member of the school staff for their magnificent efforts in supporting our students.

“Parents will be delighted that these results will make Peebles High School one of the very best schools in Scotland and one which continues to go from strength to strength.

“We have been working incredibly hard over the last few years to ensure that we implement the huge changes in Scottish education successfully and we are now beginning to see the positive results of these changes for all learners.

“With only a few of the New Highers and New Advanced Highers left to introduce, we are confident that the new curriculum is delivering better results for our young people.

“This is not only evident in our record breaking examination results but also in the flexibility and innovation of the curriculum for learners at all levels. As we move into an era of stability in the structure of our curriculum, this stability affords us time for pursuing more ambitious outcomes for our young people. This opportunity is very exciting.” Michael Pryor, the chair of the Parent Council, said: “Last year’s results were fantastic and we were worried that it wouldn’t be possible to top them.

“But it seems to be that the success has rubbed off on everybody. This school is really buzzing now and that seems to have inspired everybody. They all deserve great praise.” Early birds learned their results at daybreak - as emails reached them at 4.30am on Tuesday, but one or two were kept on tenterhooks a little longer as they opted for the old way of receiving the news - by snail mail.

The students confirmed that the exams had been tougher than usual - especially the nationally-criticised Higher mathematics paper. Leia Devlin, a pupil in S5, waited for the postman and she said: “I am delighted I did - I think you were meant to wait for them and it makes it more exciting this way.” The 17-year-old was thrilled on opening her letter to discover that she had achieved As in history and modern studies, a B in English and a C in mathematics. “The exams were quite a challenge, so I was quite prepared for the worst. This is great and I am now planning to do Advanced Highers,” she said.

P6 pupil Emma Campbell, also 17, was another to receive results by mail - and her B in English and Cs in biology and modern studies will allow her to go to Scotland’s Rural College in Edinburgh to study rural business management.

“My sister couldn’t wait for her results and got hers by email but I just thought it was the better option to wait and have them by post,” she said. “The results were a little worse than I hoped for but I am still happy as this will allow me to go to the Rural College.” P4 pupil Robbie Renwick said: “I had intended getting my results by email but I forgot to sign up! I am just relieved that it’s all over now and that I have got decent results - I have had lots of slagging off from my mates about how I would do, but it was all ok in the end.” Mr Wilson added: “We are thrilled with the examination results attained by our young people this August. We are becoming used to setting new records each year but this year we have surpassed our high expectations. I take this opportunity to pass on my sincere congratulations to our young people, parents and staff for their formidable efforts. There is never any substitute for hard work and it is something I am privileged to witness every day at Peebles High School.

“Inevitably there will be some young people who are feeling disappointed with their results and I encourage them to contact the school for advice or to set up an appointment with their Pastoral teacher at the start of the new term.” For the first time in history more than one third of all school-leavers in the Borders obtained five or more Highers. There was also an increase in the number of pupils who obtained Advanced Highers.

Councillor Sandy Aitchison, executive member for education on Scottish Borders Council, personally congratulated all the pupils present in the sports centre at Peebles High School as the results were revealed.

“I am sure they are absolutely delighted - the wait is over and they all thoroughly deserve this,” he said.

“These results paint a highly positive picture for the young people of the Scottish Borders and are a strong testament to the commitment, dedication and hard work that has been shown over the past year by pupils, teachers, parents and carers alike.

“What these results clearly show is that more young people are leaving education in the Scottish Borders with higher levels of qualifications and attainment and moving on to positive and sustained destinations.

“We have an increased number of qualifications being achieved by many more young people.

“Our teachers are more ambitious for our pupils and the adoption of an inclusive approach is providing them with greater employment or higher education opportunities.” The number of pupils leaving Borders schools with five or more Highers rose by four per cent to 34 per cent.

There was also an increase in the number of pupils obtaining Advanced Highers, with a nine per cent rise in the number of A Grade passes.

The number of pupils receiving A Grade passes at Higher level jumped by four per cent to 39 per cent, while 88 per cent of Borders pupils received an overall pass rate at A-D level. Councillor Aitchison added: “The increased number of pupils receiving A Grade passes at Advanced Higher by nine per cent and Higher by four per cent is to be particularly commended.” In the second year of the new National Qualifications, the percentage of young people obtaining five or more National 5 qualifications increased by more than one per cent while the National 5 pass rate was maintained at 90 per cent overall. Any pupil or parent who has queries about their results should phone their school. There are also advice lines available for all pupils.

Support is also available through the Skills Development Scotland helpline on 0808 100 8000.

Additional information is available on the SQA website: www.sqa.org.uk