YOUNG people in Inverclyde have posted another year of record-breaking exam results.

More students locally have gained passes at National 3, 4 and Higher levels compared with 12 months ago.

There was a slight dip in the percentage of S4 students achieving National 5 awards – down by 2.7 per cent to 35.5 per cent – but that figure is still above the 10-year high posted in 2016.

For the class of 2018, a record number of fifth year pupils secured five or more higher awards Almost three out of 10 S6 students also achieved at least five higher qualifications, representing a threefold rise over the last 11 years.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s education convener, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone who has achieved or exceeded the results they were looking for and to thank everyone for their efforts.”

In S5, just over 16 per cent of pupils secured five highers – up from 13.8 per cent 12 months ago – while over a third achieved three and nearly twothirds secured at least one.

The percentage of fifth years gaining five or more National 4s – 78 per cent – and five or more National 3s – 83.5 per cent – are also up year-on-year.

By the end of sixth year, just under 30 per cent of pupils are now leaving school with five highers, which is 0.8 per cent up on 2017, while 35 per cent are achieving three passes, an increase of 1.5 per cent.