East Lothian learners congraulted

East Lothian learners congratulated on exam results

The number of East Lothian pupils achieving five or more National 5 qualifications is at its highest level since 2022 according to analysis of Qualifications Scotland (QS) Attainment Statistics for 2025/26 published recently.

2782 candidates achieved 14,999 awards, an increase on the previous year (2757/ 14,365). Qualifications Scotland awards include National 2 to National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher and ungraded Skills for Work courses.

Analysis was carried out compared to 2024/25 results and the historical five-year average 2015-2019, a period unaffected by alternative certification models adopted during Covid-19.

Overall the percentage achieving A-C awards across all levels was in line with the 2024/25 at 83.4% (compared to 83.5%) and above the five-year historical average.

Key highlights by QS level are:

National 2, 3 and 4

Young people achieved more National 2, 3 and 4 awards this year compared to last. The number of pupils presented increased from 1501 to 1561, with the number of awards they achieved also increasing from 3504 in 24/25 to 3615 this year. The qualifications are made up of units which are internally assessed as pass or fail at school or college level then externally quality-assured by QS.

National 5

The number of pupils achieving five or more National 5 qualifications is at its highest level since 2022. 79% achieved A-C grades, broadly in line with 2025 (79.6%) and an increase of two percentage points on the five-year average (77%). The pass rate for English was in line with the previous year (89%) while Maths increased by three percentage points on 2025 at 75%, the third successive year of rises in the subject and 11 percentage points above the five-year average (64%). East Lothian’s National 5 pass rates are in line with the national average.

Higher

While the number of pupils sitting Highers was in line with previous years and the five-year average (74% of the cohort), there was an increase in the numbers achieving A-C grades (78% compared to 77%). The pass rate at English increased from 74% in 2025 to 80% which is in line with the five-year average. Pass rates for Maths fell from 80% last year to 75% this, which remains above the five-year average (74%). East Lothian’s Higher pass rates are above the national average for the second year in a row.

Advanced Higher

The number of S6 pupils presented for an Advanced Higher increased to 48% from 47% compared with the previous year and slightly below the five-year average (50%). 72% achieved A-C grades, an increase of 4 percentage points on the previous year.

Attainment gap

The attainment gap between students living in the most and least disadvantaged areas increased across National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher levels compared to the previous year. The difference at National 5 was 15 percentage points (11pp in 24/25), 19 percentage points at Higher (compared with 13pp) and 13 percentage points (7pp in previous year).