HERMITAGE Academy senior management have hailed pupils’ achievements in wider qualifications after they quadrupled over three academic years.
The senior phase offer sees youngsters given the chance to learn skills including leadership, creative arts and digital skills, with subjects including criminology and football refereeing.
The 2022/23 session saw 92 pupils achieve 162 qualifications, but in 2024/25, 200 young people achieved 683 qualifications.
The details feature in a report which will go before Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond area committee at its meeting on Tuesday, June 9.
The report said: “This growth reflects strategic investment in a diverse and inclusive senior phase offer, spanning vocational pathways, leadership, creative arts, digital skills, financial literacy and employability.
“Bundled delivery models have continued to maximise outcomes, allowing groups of learners to achieve complementary qualifications through integrated, subject-specific programmes.
“National progression awards account for the largest proportion of provision, with criminology continuing to be one of our most popular and well-established programmes.
“This session saw 40 presentations spanning SCQF (Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework) levels 5 and 6, with the majority of S6 pupils engaging with level 6 units across a rich suite of specialist topics including forensic psychology, crime control strategies, nature and extent of crime, crime in the community, the history and development of criminology and forensic science applications.
“The depth and range of this programme reflects the genuine enthusiasm young people have for this area of study.
“Our partnership with the Scottish Football Association continues to go from strength to strength, with 31 young people achieving 87 qualifications at SCQF level 7 across laws of the game, practical refereeing and the Scottish FA refereeing award.
“This vocational pathway supports confidence, leadership and clear progression routes into sport, and remains one of the most distinctive and valued elements of our wider offer.”
The school is also aiming for a positive return from the 2025/26 exam diet, with results due to be sent out on Tuesday, August 4.
The 2024/25 diet saw National 5 and Higher A-C pass rates which beat the local and national averages, but the Advanced Higher rate was behind.
The document said: “At National 5 both A-C and A-D pass rates are above both local authority and national measures. At Higher A-C and A-D pass rates are above both local authority and national measures. National 4 pass rate sits at 100 per cent for 2025 presentations.
“At Advanced Higher both A-C and A-D pass rates are below the local authority and national measures. We continuously work to improve the quality of pass and this has been a priority for Advanced Higher across different departmental areas this year.”
