A Glasgow secondary where the number of pupils studying for Advanced Highers has jumped up by more than 60 percent says the city’s new model is a huge boost for school-leavers “in a competitive market.”
In 2024/2025, 55 young people studied at least one Advanced Higher at Knightswood Secondary, compared to 34 in the previous year, and 23 in 2002/2023, while the number of A passes doubled from six in 2023 to 12 last year.
The number of pupils studying two Advanced Highers rose to 22 from 13 last year, and the number doing three has increased from two to seven since 2023/2024.
Glasgow City Council faced criticism when its Advanced Higher Hub at Glasgow Caledonian University – designed to allow sixth year pupils from across the city the chance to study AH subjects not offered in their own schools – was axed due to funding cuts.
Instead, the authority introduced a “local model”, where pupils could move between a network of secondary schools offering harmonised timetables.
Knightswood Secondary headteacher Maura McNeil said: “The shift from the Hub to a more local solution has really benefitted our young people.
“Last session we offered art, biology, business, drama, English and maths at Advanced Higher level and this year we have added chemistry and music."
She added: “We have had young people studying at other Glasgow schools, as some timetables did not fit with our offer, and we have had young people from other schools joining our classes.”
Ms McNeil said Advanced Highers can give some school-leavers a competitive edge.
“They help our young people get into the positive destinations that they want - especially for the competitive courses such as law and medicine, and they give them the confidence to apply for these courses,” she said.
“Advanced Highers give young people the independent study skills they will need post-school - whether they choose to go to university or to degree level apprenticeships, giving them the opportunity to earn while they study.”
READ NEXT:
-
Glasgow school where every child has 'musical experience' crowned city champions
-
'High attainment': School near Glasgow gets positive inspection report
-
Glasgow's Govan High pupils praised for project tackling crime in community
She added: “It is a very competitive market and this gives them a wider portfolio of qualifications to take to universities and employers, giving them an advantage.”
Malak Mohammed is studying Advanced Highers in maths and biology in a bid to boost her chances of studying medicine at university.
“The biology course will really help me in my first year at university and I am enjoying the neurology topic the most at the moment,” she explained.
“I like the problem-solving aspects of the maths course – I get a real feeling of satisfaction when I complete a problem.”
Katie Docherty, who is doing Advanced Highers in art, biology and chemistry, added: “I’m applying for scientific courses so the Advanced Highers give me an insight into what the practical content might be like.
“The learning is far more independent, giving me experience of what university is going to involve.”
Keiran Tsang, who is doing Advanced Higher maths, Waslat Rasooli, who is studying maths and art with the aim of doing civil engineering courses at university and Matthew Fraser, who is doing computing and maths, all agree.
Keiran added: “I am studying AH computing at Hyndland Secondary and maths here at Knightswood, so I am getting experience of being taught in two schools.”
Councillor Christina Cannon, city convener for education and early years, said: “The impact of our new Advanced Higher model across our secondary schools is so encouraging.
“It will be interesting to see how our schools build on this success and more young people than ever before in the city achieve Advanced Higher qualifications as part of their learning journey.”
Ms McNeil added: "We are delighted to see our S5 attainment rise which has ensured that our young people have the grades to study at AH level when they reach S6 should they choose to do so.
“We do know that this is not what all young people want to do.
"Over the past five years we have also introduced a range of other courses at Levels 5 and 6, including politics, accounting, energy, travel and tourism, creative industries and the ever-popular barista and first aid at work, to ensure we are meeting the needs and aspirations of all of our young people.”
Share