HUNDREDS of West Dunbartonshire pupils sat almost 10,000 exams this year and are outperforming the national average.

New details of the exam results were revealed at the council’s education services committee last week, including how Higher and National 5 numbers continue their five-year upward trend.

The committee also heard West Dunbartonshire had the biggest increase in Scotland for the number of pupils heading to further education, employment or training – meaning nine out of ten young people are going to so-called “positive destinations”.

But Advanced Higher passes have fallen back, with St Peter the Apostle High showing a significant drop, dragging down numbers overall.

The committee heard 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.

Dumbarton Academy saw its National 5 numbers slip slightly from 81 per cent to 77 this year, while OLSP stayed steady at 86 per cent and Vale of Leven Academy rose to 81 per cent.

The Scottish average was 77.40 per cent.

In Highers, Dumbarton Academy was up from 70 to 73 percent, OLSP went up to 86 per cent from 84, and Vale of Leven jumped significantly from 73 per cent to 82. The Scottish average was 76.80 per cent.

But in Advanced Highers, Dumbarton dropped from 77 per cent to 68, OLSP rose from 76 per cent to 92, and Vale of Leven rose to 82 per cent from 70.

The national average was 80.50 per cent.

There were just 245 Advanced Higher exams sat locally this year, with some schools carrying certain subjects over others for the entire council area. By 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 said they were “absolutely phenomenal results” and added: “I’m particularly pleased in an area that has so many challenges with deprivation, that we are here with a report that we are outperforming national averages.”