Girls are continuing to widen their lead over boys in terms of school-leaving qualifications, according to new Scottish Office statistics. These show that one-third of girls leaving school in 1995/96 had three or more higher passes, the normal entrance requirement for higher education, compared with just over a quarter of boys. This compares with 22 per cent of girls and 19 per cent of boys in 1985/86. Pupils from independent schools generally left with better qualifications than those from publicly funded schools.