HUNDREDS of West Dunbartonshire pupils outperformed the national average this year as they sat almost 10,000 exams.

Details of the exam results were revealed at the education services committee last week, including how Higher and National 5 results continue their five-year upward trend.

The committee also heard West Dunbartonshire had the biggest increase in Scotland for the number of pupils heading into further education, employment or training – with 90.1 per cent of young people going to so-called “positive destinations”.

However, Advanced Higher passes have fallen, with St Peter the Apostle High showing a big drop, dragging down numbers.

There were 2,109 candidates for 9,603 qualifications from National 2 up to Advanced Higher, and 83 per cent of those gained a pass.

Clydebank High saw National 5 passes rise from 78 per cent to 82 per cent, while St Peter the Apostle High slipped back from 81 to 76 per cent.

The Scottish average was 77.40 per cent.

In contrast, St Peter’s rose from 74 per cent to 77 per cent in Higher results, while Clydebank High dropped from 79 per cent to tie St Peter’s at 77 per cent. The national average was 76.80 per cent.

But, in Advanced Highers, St Peter’s dropped from 88 per cent last year to 57 per cent pass rate in 2018. Clydebank High also dropped from 76 per cent to 70 per cent.

The national average was 80.50 per cent.

There were just 245 Advanced Higher exams taken this year while, in comparison, there were almost 2,600 Higher exams sat and 4,300 National 5s.

Councillor Danny Lennie said: “I think it’s something everyone should be proud of.”

Council leader Jonathan McColl described the results as “absolutely phenomenal” and put them down to the hard work of teachers, pupils, parents and everyone in the school community.

He added: “I’m particularly pleased that an area like West Dunbartonshire, which has so many challenges with deprivation, that we are here with a report that we are outperforming national averages.”