Poverty attainment gap remains as National 5 passes reach record level

The poverty-related attainment gap in Scotland’s schools has reduced slightly, but remains stubbornly high, new figures have shown.

The difference in qualifications attainment of those from the richest and poorest has become a benchmark in recent years, with successive Scottish Governments pledging to tackle it.

The most recent exam results, delivered to pupils on Tuesday, show a 26.1 percentage point gap in those achieving an A at National 5, 21.5 points at Higher and 16.8 points at Advanced Higher – a reduction of 0.9, 0.3 and 1.3 percentage points compared to 2025.

Meanwhile, there was a 15.6 point gap in the pass rate at National 5, 15.9 points at Higher and 12.1 points at Advanced Higher, down 0.8, 0.9 and 1.2 points from last year.

The attainment gap figures come as a record number of passes at National 5 were recorded.

Almost 270,000 received a passing grade at National 5, up from about 262,000 last year.

Pass rates for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher also increased across the board, to 79.2%, 76.7% and 77.6% respectively.

The proportion of pupils who achieved an A also rose for National 5 and Higher to 40.3% and 20.9%, and the rate for Advanced Higher fell to 30.9%.

More than 148,000 pupils received the results of 1.5 million exam papers and pieces of coursework on Tuesday, which Education Secretary Mairi McAllan described as a “proud day for Scotland’s young people and our education system”.

She said: “My congratulations go to everyone receiving their results. I know how much hard work and resilience it takes to get here, and you all deserve enormous credit.

“These are incredibly positive results across the board, with academic passes up at every level – National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher – as well as record numbers of vocational qualifications.

“This is testament to the breadth and strength of Scotland’s education system, the professionalism of our teachers and school staff, and the hard work of our young people.

“It is particularly pleasing to see another narrowing in the attainment gap between the most and least deprived areas.

“This builds on similar progress in the gaps for literacy and numeracy levels, as well as for the number of young people entering initial positive destinations, which has narrowed by almost two thirds since 2009-10.

“This is welcome progress, but we will not be complacent and will continue to do all we can to close the poverty-related attainment gap even further, having empowered headteachers and invested £1.75 billion in the Scottish Attainment Challenge over the past decade, with up to £200 million being invested this year as well.”