Scotland’s learners’ achievements celebrated

In its first year of delivering results for National Qualifications and Awards, Qualifications Scotland confirmed that the 2025-26 session resulted in:

• Overall attainment rates at A-C increasing at all levels of National Qualifications (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher)

• The poverty-related attainment gap narrowed at all levels of National Qualifications (National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher)

• Total number of vocational and technical qualifications – the skills-based awards that unlock training and career opportunities – continuing to increase to more than 120,000

• Learners are achieving more National Qualifications and vocational and technical qualifications – but not to the detriment of one over the other

All learners will receive the traditional envelope through the letterbox containing their results and qualifications certificate. More than 67,000 of them have already received their results via email or text from 8am today, having signed up for the My Qualifications Scotland digital service.

Donna Stewart, Scotland’s Chief Qualifications and Examinations Officer, said: 'Scotland’s learners should be proud of what they have achieved today – we are certainly very proud of them.

'These results are a testament to their hard work and commitment. The rise in overall attainment at all three National Qualification levels and the increasing attainment in vocational and technical qualifications will rightly be welcomed in classrooms and staffrooms across Scotland.

'The diversity of qualifications being achieved today is further evidence of the appetite for skills-based, practical qualifications along with traditional subjects, which give learners a variety of options to develop skills and build work experience that employers are looking out for. It is encouraging to see the number of vocational and technical qualifications continuing to grow to over 120,000.

'The results for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses are evidence of the stable state of the awarding system with assessments working as intended, ensuring that learners were able to demonstrate what they know and can do.

'I also want to thank my fellow teachers and lecturers; not only the thousands of them who play a critical role as markers and so make Results Day possible but every educator for the work they do every day to support learners, alongside support workers, parents and carers across Scotland.

'Today is our first Results Day as Qualifications Scotland, and everyone takes our responsibility to deliver for Scotland’s learners very seriously and we feel privileged to have delivered these results to them today.'

The headline figures for 2026

Number of qualifications at Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) levels 1-6 in 2026

The attainment gap has narrowed at all levels in 2026 from 2025.

Vocational and technical qualification awards continue to increase.

2026 saw learners continue to achieve vocational and technical qualification awards in greater numbers. The qualifications included a range of Skills for Work courses, Awards, National Certificates and National Progression Awards.

They included subjects such as Business with Information Technology, Climate Change and Sustainability, Computer Games Development, Early Learning and Childcare, Hairdressing, Leadership, Scottish Studies, Sports and Fitness: Team Sports, Personal Finance, Modern Languages for Life and Work and Sports Development. Other valuable and popular course choices include Mental Health and Wellbeing and Personal Development.

There is a huge variety of journeys and pathways that qualifications can take learners on. From apprenticeships through workplaces and colleges in the museum, business or trade sectors, to developing catering and life skills through a social enterprise, to gaining skills and experience in cyber security, business and marketing while at school, to learning to speak English and gain qualifications at college while working in the social care sector – qualifications enable learners to progress in life.

Donna Stewart added: 'Today, we are also celebrating those learners who receive certificates throughout the year for other qualifications, including for Higher National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications and for those undertaking Foundation Apprenticeships.

'The wide range of qualifications that Qualifications Scotland offers support learners in reaching their full potential as they progress to college, university, apprenticeships, other learning, training and employment.

'We continue to visit schools, colleges and training providers across the country to listen and learn from educators and learners. Our Learner and Teacher and Practitioner Interest Committees have been established and will give us valuable insight and advice from their lived experience, which will help us shape qualifications and how we assess them in the future.'

2026 in numbers

National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher 

• Over 132,000 learners in more than 460 schools, colleges and training providers took these courses

• 1.5 million assessments (exam papers and coursework) marked

• Around 7,500 markers and 131 Principal Assessors (experienced teachers and lecturers)

• 146 Grade Boundary meetings over five weeks