Scotland’s Secondary School League Tables 2022

There is an updated version of this post based on new data for 2023 Scotland’s Secondary School League Tables

Scotland’s secondary schools ranked according to pupil attainment in the higher examinations for school year 2020-21.  Schools were ranked based on the number of students gaining a pass in five or more highers, the gold standard measure according to the Scottish Government’s education department (Education Scotland).  For full methodology see below.  Data was obtained for 346 secondary schools.  Of there 81 schools had 50% or more of their pupils achieving passes in five or more highers and 15 schools had 70% or more pupils reaching this gold standard.  In contrast, only 19 schools had less than 20% of pupils obtaining 5 or more higher awards representing 3.7% of the total school roll.  A table containing schools’ results for six years which can be downloaded is at the bottom of the page.

Contents:

• A map of Scotland with secondary school catchment areas colour coded by ranking groups is also provided (Figure 1)
• A table showing secondary schools that have improved performance over past 5 years
• A table showing performance by Local authority
• Impact of deprivation within catchment area on a school’s pupil attainment
• A searchable table showing rankings for previous six years performance for all secondary schools
• Discussion and interpretation
• Methods and Sources

 

Catchment Area Map Showing Rank Bands and School Locations

Catchment areas

Catchment areas are shown for local authority non-denominational schools only.  Scotland’s best performing schools (band 1 the top 20% by Rank) are located in areas coloured in dark green and the lowest attainment schools (band 5 the bottom 20% by Rank) in deep purple areas (Figure 1). The hover tool within the area gives the names of schools associated with each area, their ranks and the percentage of pupils awarded 5 or more highers.

Notes on School Catchment Areas
Some local authorities do not make schools’ catchment areas available (areas on the map that are not coloured) and the catchment areas for catholic schools are not available.  Catchment areas for the outer Hebrides, Orkney or Shetland Isles are complicated because of local arrangements whereby a number of island primary schools feed into secondary schools offering S1 and S4 year groups before moving on to “mainland” schools offering S5 and S6 year groups.  Orange zones depict areas where there is no direct link between the location and a specific school, i.e. where pupils have a choice of secondary school or where the secondary school accommodates pupils until stage S4 and they then move on to another secondary school to study for highers.

School Locations

Individual schools are shown on the map black circles (red for catholic schools).  If you click on the school marker a pop-up will appear with additional information: the school name, 2022 rank, percent attaining 5 highers or more, school roll,  number of FTE teachers and the school address.

Navigation

• The bands are in layers (openstreetmap box) and each attainment band can be selected individually using the check boxes.
• Zoom in to an area using the +/- button
• Drag the map to move around when zooming.  Drag down to see Shetland

Figure 1: Catchment Area Map Showing Rank Bands and School Locations

 

Schools That Have Improved Substantially Over Five Years

A number of secondary schools have improved their ranking over the previous five years and deserve mention.  Table 1 shows schools that have improved their ranking by 100 or more positions since 2015-2016.

 

 

Performance Over Five Years By Local Authority

Schools are managed by Local Authorities at the local level.  In order to determine any relationship between the Local Authority and school performance the five year movement in Rank was calculated for each school and used to determine the average movement within a Local Authority.  The results are shown in Table 2.  Fourteen LAs showed a five year improvement.  Shetland Islands (91) achieved the highest five year average movement, albeit based on only two schools, followed by Renfrewshire, West Lothian and Glasgow City (72, 70 and 36 respectively).

Impact of Deprivation on Pupil Attainment

Deprivation in a school’s catchment area has impact on the overall performance (in terms of the percentage of pupils achieving passes in five or more highers) and this was analysed using the 2022 data.  The Scottish Government publishes data showing the percentage of pupils from the most deprived areas (SIMD analysis 20% most deprived areas) and these were crossmatched with the schools’ rank bins used in this web page.  Figure 2 shows the results of the analysis.  In the chart the x axis (categories) shows each of the school ranking split into bins.  Each bin represents 69 schools except bin 1 which has 70 schools.  The y axis shows the percentage of pupils resident in one of 20% most deprived areas (in 5% increments).  The size of the dot depicts the number of schools for each deprivation increment. Note that deprivation score of * represents a school where the percentage of pupils from deprived areas is not given.  This is usually because of low numbers and is an approach commonly taken with official data to preserve the anonymity of individuals where the data arises from low numbers.  There is a clear pattern whereby the highest achieving schools (Bin_1) are populated by pupils predominately from the least deprived areas (note cluster for Bin_1 mainly around the lowest percentages for deprived SIMD 2020 zones, ) and, in contrast,  poorer performing schools have greater percentage of pupils coming from more deprived areas (see school attainment Bin_5 which shows a wide spread of data including many schools with high percentage of pupils from deprived zones).

 

 

Performance Table for all Secondary Schools:  Six Years’ Data

Download performance table for all secondary schools

Table 3: Performance over six years

Rank 20202021	Schoolname	% 5 And Above 20202021	Rank 20152016	Rank 20162017	Rank 20172018	Rank 20182019	Rank 20192020
1	Jordanhill School	91	1	1	1	1	1
2	Bearsden Academy	81	8	8	8	5	6
3	St Ninian's High School	78	2	2	3	4	3
4	Cults Academy	78	4	7	18	15	8
5	Williamwood High School	77	3	3	5	9	7
6	Glasgow Gaelic School	76	16	6	10	8	19
7	Dunblane High School	75	15	11	2	3	4
8	Gryffe High School	74	6	12	7	10	2
9	Boclair Academy	73	19	15	11	31	28
10	Bishopbriggs Academy	73	11	9	12	11	10
11	Woodfarm High School	73	17	17	28	17	31
12	Boroughmuir High School	73	7	4	6	6	9
13	Eastwood High School	71	23	22	32	14	17
14	The Royal High School	70	24	73	36	41	35
15	Mearns Castle High School	70	5	5	4	2	5
16	Douglas Academy	69	10	10	9	7	14
17	Lenzie Academy	68	28	16	17	16	13
18	Turnbull High School	67	22	21	26	19	21
19	North Berwick High School	66	18	14	30	13	39
20	Linlithgow Academy	65	9	26	21	23	11
21	The James Young High School	65	61	68	78	26	18
22	St Thomas Of Aquin's High School	65	37	38	100	20	44
23	Hyndland Secondary School	64	42	25	33	27	43
24	Balfron High School	64	12	13	13	21	20
25	Banchory Academy	64	30	18	14	18	41
26	Braes High School	62	151	103	141	91	62
27	Currie Community High School	62	73	57	35	72	51
28	Firrhill High School	62	55	107	49	35	32
29	Monifieth High School	62	64	30	40	57	50
30	Madras College	62	50	89	61	39	86
31	James Gillespie's High School	62	13	19	50	12	15
32	Strathaven Academy	61	25	41	15	22	30
33	Aberdeen Grammar School	61	14	24	16	36	22
34	Glen Urquhart High School	61	46	29	158	101	27
35	Notre Dame High School	60	89	59	39	34	25
36	Peebles High School	60	20	28	20	67	40
37	Balerno Community High School	60	41	80	34	37	56
38	St Margaret's Academy	59	65	67	52	43	24
39	Earlston High School	59	43	91	47	29	16
40	Largs Academy	58	29	32	59	61	23
41	West Calder High School	57	109	170	51	24	12
42	Tarbert Academy	57	153	180	42	214	38
43	Moffat Academy	57	35	20	229	30	26
44	Kinross High School	57	63	37	86	60	79
45	Armadale Academy	56	190	171	170	148	89
46	Dalziel High School	56	53	49	25	47	47
47	Kirkintilloch High School	56	219	92	22	179	161
48	St Ninian's High School	56	31	84	82	25	48
49	Grove Academy	56	36	86	74	59	66
50	Broxburn Academy	55	75	133	67	68	210
51	Trinity High School	55	225	129	130	132	94
52	The Community School of Auchterarder	55	91	136	58	78	52
53	Dunbar Grammar School	55	94	82	91	75	80
54	Knox Academy	55	59	74	65	98	120
55	Mallaig High School	55	265	33	283	76	55
56	Whitburn Academy	54	96	220	121	46	82
57	Paisley Grammar School	54	92	200	105	114	68
58	Kelso High School	54	112	47	162	215	272
59	Webster's High School	54	71	85	124	150	113
60	Mearns Academy	54	148	144	54	136	132
61	Our Lady's High School - Cumbernauld	53	39	27	37	54	45
62	St Kentigern's Academy	53	231	188	97	71	69
63	St Andrew's and St Bride's High School	53	78	53	29	84	49
64	Breadalbane Academy	53	93	63	137	85	101
65	Craigmount High School	53	82	55	41	62	65
66	Wallace Hall Academy	52	27	196	72	48	53
67	Marr College	52	84	39	104	55	33
68	Westhill Academy	52	72	50	24	134	29
69	St Joseph's College	52	50	96	134	44	34
70	Alford Academy	52	33	48	98	111	105
71	Ullapool High School	52	97	168	77	106	160
72	Inveralmond Community High School	51	137	99	110	50	61
73	Larbert High School	51	79	76	69	56	107
74	Shawlands Academy	51	209	187	154	115	205
75	Hermitage Academy	51	62	62	62	52	87
76	St Benedict's High School	50	261	126	288	181	108
77	Prestwick Academy	50	118	52	89	69	95
78	Biggar High School	50	40	71	99	45	182
79	St Maurice's High School	50	142	77	64	51	42
80	Arran High School	50	127	31	112	92	196
81	Duncanrig Secondary School	50	152	114	119	73	103
82	St Matthew's Academy	49	222	201	183	165	164
83	Gleniffer High School	49	173	152	131	86	133
84	McLaren High School	49	37	23	23	40	70
85	Stirling High School	49	69	97	115	126	93
86	Holy Cross High School	49	100	56	84	28	77
87	Chryston High School	48	136	147	211	129	117
88	Perth High School	48	80	137	106	95	74
89	Dyce Academy	48	270	118	279	175	184
90	St Mungo's RC High School	48	122	131	68	77	111
91	Queen Margaret Academy	47	216	124	116	66	106
92	Kyle Academy	47	48	35	56	58	58
93	Inverurie Academy	47	198	113	197	264	135
94	Calderglen High School	47	111	134	200	139	90
95	Millburn Academy	47	47	75	79	103	145
96	Aboyne Academy	47	44	110	57	49	37
97	Ellon Academy	47	85	161	108	183	98
98	Hamilton Grammar School	47	180	60	83	81	200
99	Anderson High School	46	77	87	94	74	81
100	Crieff High School	46	104	143	95	200	59
101	Inverkeithing High School	46	67	83	70	90	142
102	Fortrose Academy	46	26	34	135	33	75
103	Kemnay Academy	46	171	190	45	94	129
104	Bathgate Academy	45	227	127	181	166	67
105	Clydeview Academy	45	32	36	38	32	64
106	Stonelaw High School	45	135	202	148	279	178
107	Queensferry Community High School	45	146	104	46	118	116
108	Cardinal Newman High School	45	147	185	87	112	85
109	Belmont Academy	45	70	78	103	143	97
110	Portobello High School	45	140	112	169	109	144
111	Mackie Academy	45	49	69	31	96	73
112	Gairloch High School	45	285	285	76	213	223
113	Deans Community High School	44	197	198	167	89	122
114	St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School	44	128	155	96	42	139
115	Lanark Grammar School	44	125	186	140	152	188
116	St Margaret's High School	44	138	146	133	203	214
117	Johnstone High School	44	204	213	174	272	217
118	Milne's High School	44	177	215	93	178	78
119	Woodmill High School	44	223	243	151	83	191
120	St Luke's High School	44	21	44	44	38	71
121	Lasswade High School Centre	43	220	195	85	79	84
122	Renfrew High School	43	210	111	187	108	204
123	Greenfaulds High School	43	103	159	100	120	100
124	Oban High School	43	166	135	244	237	123
125	St John Ogilvie High School	43	144	191	136	65	151
126	Culloden Academy	43	120	81	73	116	193
127	Tain Royal Academy	43	154	221	132	287	240
128	Barrhead High School	43	189	183	178	82	46
129	Dunfermline High School	42	131	109	155	133	189
130	Carrick Academy	42	99	169	241	258	150
131	Holyrood Secondary School	42	161	199	81	171	140
132	Park Mains High School	42	181	105	92	173	126
133	Waid Academy	42	113	130	176	110	121
134	Dumfries High School	42	98	154	172	208	155
135	St Andrew's Academy	42	194	125	186	146	152
136	Balwearie High School	42	88	138	149	104	156
137	Cathkin High School	42	211	234	190	145	173
138	Airdrie Academy	42	165	236	250	147	237
139	Kirkcudbright Academy	42	83	64	212	88	294
140	Brae High School	41	344	156	274	131	341
141	St Ambrose High School	41	66	43	88	70	76
142	Castlehead High School	41	184	160	179	216	312
143	Lourdes Secondary School	41	280	240	219	242	185
144	St John's RC Academy	41	274	241	205	123	118
145	Oldmachar Academy	41	68	40	27	209	72
146	Hillhead High School	41	76	120	185	102	109
147	Portlethen Academy	41	182	102	156	189	112
148	Broughton High School	41	215	261	198	260	130
149	Kirkwall Grammar School	41	207	121	225	170	218
150	Falkirk High School	41	206	248	160	163	213
151	Taylor High School	41	187	206	125	87	92
152	Trinity Academy	41	174	209	161	53	63
153	Meldrum Academy	41	106	208	113	135	128
154	Montrose Academy	41	150	172	206	248	298
155	John Paul Academy	40	307	288	252	266	225
156	Glenwood High School	40	249	303	299	335	165
157	Wallace High School	40	178	116	60	64	88
158	Carluke High School	40	232	192	203	241	247
159	Denny High School	40	202	230	202	263	267
160	Kingussie High School	40	279	51	146	188	174
161	Harris Academy	40	54	174	235	121	131
162	Berwickshire High School	40	157	95	142	180	187
163	Lossiemouth High School	40	230	149	216	304	252
164	Cumbernauld Academy	40	114	164	109	122	154
165	The Nicolson Institute	40	74	90	224	141	186
166	Lockerbie Academy	40	195	228	263	157	208
167	Penicuik High School	40	60	284	222	137	229
168	Dornoch Academy	39	90	54	171	286	148
169	Dumfries Academy	39	247	100	117	130	224
170	Liberton High School	39	291	264	315	232	313
171	Sgoil Lionacleit	39	117	235	257	228	83
172	King's Park Secondary School	39	213	254	152	153	243
173	St Columba's High School	39	110	132	80	107	143
174	Our Lady & St Patrick's High School	39	167	61	90	63	180
175	Notre Dame High School	39	119	158	107	144	190
176	Castle Douglas High School	39	52	98	237	117	137
177	Bucksburn Academy	39	239	225	262	269	124
178	Perth Academy	39	129	128	147	113	219
179	Bell Baxter High School	39	116	217	126	172	158
180	Eyemouth High School	39	267	251	272	227	288
181	Ardnamurchan High School	38	107	65	342	338	54
182	St Andrew's Secondary School	38	191	163	128	191	254
183	Ayr Academy	38	260	335	324	329	319
184	Bellahouston Academy	38	234	255	248	234	220
185	Graeme High School	38	126	182	123	100	167
186	Grantown Grammar School	38	250	79	111	138	127
187	The Gordon Schools	38	132	242	189	225	268
188	Elgin Academy	38	123	117	48	187	181
189	Uddingston Grammar School	38	169	153	102	140	115
190	Stewarton Academy	38	57	108	63	105	198
191	St Aidan's High School	38	168	145	129	159	110
192	Bridge Of Don Academy	38	133	72	207	193	146
193	Forres Academy	38	81	105	227	156	169
194	Selkirk High School	38	203	214	114	158	192
195	Kinlochleven High School	38	344	266	283	229	263
196	Larkhall Academy	37	240	259	233	291	114
197	Lochaber High School	37	257	274	217	196	308
198	Loudoun Academy	37	102	94	177	155	216
199	St Stephen's High School	37	270	245	273	290	273
200	Grange Academy	37	163	216	122	204	256
201	St Joseph's Academy	37	243	250	236	238	171
202	Our Lady's High School - Motherwell	37	121	222	71	151	99
203	St Modan's High School	37	193	194	281	119	141
204	Plockton High School	37	86	139	55	97	125
205	St David's RC High School	36	164	223	144	246	233
206	Brechin High School	36	256	282	291	292	319
207	Glenrothes High School	36	221	269	159	220	285
208	Stromness Academy	36	204	42	75	201	194
209	Musselburgh Grammar School	36	183	218	193	124	245
210	Bo'ness Academy	36	192	193	245	184	197
211	Ross High School	36	228	226	277	224	287
212	Knightswood Secondary School	36	324	294	312	283	286
213	Golspie High School	36	248	325	209	284	138
214	Alloa Academy	36	299	258	264	271	314
215	Charleston Academy	36	179	207	145	160	104
216	Sir E Scott School	36	56	45	66	80	36
217	Coltness High School	35	269	229	221	220	226
218	Dalbeattie High School	35	45	179	53	93	91
219	Drumchapel High School	35	339	340	327	328	284
220	Queen Anne High School	35	156	142	195	162	209
221	Leith Academy	35	301	247	282	235	231
222	Bannockburn High School	34	286	293	302	262	238
223	Preston Lodge High School	34	233	289	253	316	295
224	Beeslack Community High School	34	115	122	191	149	172
225	Kilwinning Academy	34	308	173	163	239	241
226	Mintlaw Academy	34	229	212	276	252	227
227	Thurso High School	34	240	277	180	300	175
228	Auchenharvie Academy	34	322	306	222	323	195
229	Alva Academy	34	101	227	175	125	177
230	Kilmarnock Academy	34				142	249
231	Greenwood Academy	34	254	204	199	285	202
232	St Augustine's High School	34	245	239	295	205	176
233	Dunoon Grammar School	34	176	203	165	182	119
234	Jedburgh Grammar School	34	263	260	297	275	170
235	Harlaw Academy	34	244	296	210	270	159
236	Caldervale High School	33	277	166	265	245	271
237	Clydebank High School	33	160	210	270	267	228
238	Girvan Academy	33	130	181	286	164	297
239	Coatbridge High School	33	278	291	231	244	265
240	Kilsyth Academy	33	196	157	173	256	136
241	Bannerman High School	33	198	184	166	168	96
242	St Peter the Apostle High School	33	149	189	208	236	215
243	Lesmahagow High School	33	201	119	164	212	248
244	Portree High School	33	242	148	304	293	57
245	Islay High School	33	105	123	259	127	147
246	Buckie High School	33	302	276	269	280	307
247	Langholm Academy	32	185	58	19	211	102
248	Castlemilk High School	32	306	318	249	282	201
249	All Saints Secondary School	32	300	317	309	281	242
250	Inverclyde Academy	32	328	244	310	198	230
251	St Andrew's High School	32	252	151	232	222	199
252	Galashiels Academy	32	251	70	138	251	157
253	Grangemouth High School	32	237	272	234	176	277
254	Brannock High School	32	320	265	279	243	235
255	Vale Of Leven Academy	32	276	224	277	302	250
256	Arbroath High School	32	155	219	196	202	207
257	Blairgowrie High School	32	141	299	188	185	168
258	Tynecastle High School	32	317	305	300	273	306
259	Holy Rood RC High School	31	214	256	218	128	163
260	Hawick High School	31	275	231	306	299	300
261	Douglas Ewart High School	31	145	115	255	219	246
262	Inverness Royal Academy	31	95	141	150	174	134
263	Port Glasgow High School	31	309	304	225	194	162
264	Alness Academy	31	255	323	330	313	257
265	Drummond Community High School	31	294	313	214	261	261
266	Garnock Community Campus	31	172	176	192	250	222
267	Carnoustie High School	31	272	211	139	199	234
268	St Mungo's Academy	30	327	338	321	231	211
269	Kirkcaldy High School	30	238	292	242	192	264
270	Hillpark Secondary School	30	281	308	254	301	280
271	Annan Academy	30	287	232	239	226	281
272	Trinity High School	30	175	140	153	197	221
273	Tobermory High School	30	34	46	120	99	60
274	Arbroath Academy	29	217	287	287	265	305
275	Rosshall Academy	29	292	267	246	218	283
276	Bellshill Academy	29	296	298	228	217	302
277	St Andrew's R C High School	29	236	273	157	268	270
278	Forrester High School	29	335	311	307	296	322
279	Banff Academy	29	312	263	168	223	278
280	Campbeltown Grammar School	29	218	249	268	255	335
281	Morgan Academy	29	298	246	311	289	291
282	Dumbarton Academy	28	124	178	182	161	236
283	Keith Grammar School	28	326	279	194	169	299
284	Lochgelly High School	28	293	329	285	322	289
285	Hazlehead Academy	28	134	271	213	190	153
286	Whitehill Secondary School	28	338	300	271	206	251
287	Robert Burns Academy	28
288	Forfar Academy	28	187	150	256	305	260
289	Wick High School	28	289	281	305	288	279
290	Doon Academy	27	305	326	247	312	255
291	Stranraer Academy	27	253	238	266	310	269
292	Calderside Academy	27	258	197	261	259	296
293	Craigroyston Community High School	27	341	342	336	326	340
294	Dingwall Academy	27	162	275	204	249	182
295	Elgin High School	27	226	290	220	278	179
296	Nairn Academy	27	87	167	118	186	206
297	Fraserburgh Academy	27	284	257	289	254	239
298	Smithycroft Secondary School	26	334	341	292	319	316
299	Cleveden Secondary School	26	259	306	275	233	244
300	St John's RC High School	26	200	177	230	207	212
301	Invergordon Academy	26	139	268	296	253	232
302	Rothesay Academy	26	282	279	293	210	325
303	St Columba's R C High School	26	170	310	215	307	266
304	Calderhead High School	26	266	233	320	315	303
305	Newbattle High School	25	336	321	314	334	310
306	Ardrossan Academy	25	235	252	317	297	317
307	St Roch's Secondary School	25	304	270	294	257	315
308	Viewforth High School	25	321	162	322	195	328
309	Peterhead Academy	25	315	324	251	303	321
310	Sanquhar Academy	24	313	278	297	177	318
311	St Margaret Mary's Secondary School	24	344	335	342	321	274
311	Govan High School	24	332	332	333	298	337
313	Turriff Academy	24	224	315	201	276	309
314	St Machar Academy	24	331	320	323	311	262
315	Speyside High School	24	208	88	301	154	166
316	Braidhurst High School	24	212	302	335	306	323
317	Lornshill Academy	24	283	301	303	308	304
318	Baldragon Academy	24	246	328	331	327	275
319	Lochend Community High School	23	343	333	339	337	336
320	Auchmuty High School	23	186	283	184	240	293
321	Irvine Royal Academy	23	294	253	260	330	326
322	Eastbank Academy	22	329	314	319	314	329
323	Perth Grammar School	22	273	205	240	274	258
324	Lochgilphead High School	22	58	165	238	295	203
325	Springburn Academy	20	319	295	326	320	301
326	Dalkeith High School	20	159	101	143	230	149
327	Gracemount High School	20	317	327	332	324	327
328	Linwood High School	19	313	316	313	318	334
329	Clyde Valley High School	19	290	322	290	294	276
330	Craigie High School	19	311	309	316	325	331
331	Levenmouth Academy	18		331	325	332	330
332	St Paul's RC Academy	18	303	237	308	309	282
333	Beath High School	17	288	297	334	277	290
334	Wester Hailes High School	14	337	337	339	338	338
335	Lochside Academy	14				333	311
336	St Paul's High School	14	330	339	318	317	324
337	North West Community Campus	13				338	341
338	Inverness High School	12	323	330	337	336	332
339	Braeview Academy	11	340	334	329	330	333
340	Northfield Academy	7	341	343	341	338	339
341	Farr High School	0	158	65	342	338	253
341	Castlebay School	0	344	344	43	338	341
341	Castlebrae Community High School	0	344	344	342	338	341
341	Kinlochbervie High School	0	344	344	342	338	341
341	Kilchuimen Academy	0	344	344	342	338	341
341	Tiree High School	0	344

Discussion

There is much controversy concerning the publication of school rankings.  Indeed, the Scottish Government goes out of its way to state that it does not provide ranking or league tables for schools, yet, they publish comprehensive data that with minimum manipulation provides this information.  However, the data is provided on an obscure website in a format that is not readily accessible for anyone not skilled in data manipulation.

Teachers and teaching professionals do not like schools to be compared and maybe for some valid reasons.  Nevertheless, in the absence of any viable alternative measure, ranking schools provides parents with a source of information about the academic environment that a pupil may be immersed in and of the academic achievement of pupils in that school. Also, since the topic is covered extensively every year in the Scottish press and is poured over by parents, this website is not revealing anything that is a secret.  The press, with the exception of the Times, follow a lazy approach in that they just repeat the data published by the Times. There are minor differences in the ranks between this site and The Times.  However, in the absence of details from The Times it is not clear how they differentiated schools with the same percentage of pupils obtaining 5 or more passes.

A number of commercial “Education Information” websites provide information such as catchment areas and rankings.  Most of these temp parents on to the site advertising schools information only to find out that you have to subscribe to obtain the data.  This datamap-scotland is non-commercial, without adverts and makes all its information available for free.

Notes on Rankings

• A ranking based on exam results for any particular year is simply that.  It does not inform on a school’s educational performance or improvement/decline since a school could perform better from the previous year yet still fall down the rankings because other schools had better exam results.  It does not inform on the quality of teaching – a better method would be to asses pupils throughout their education and measure individual pupil improvement – say from starting secondary education and at various stages throughout.
• The ranking for the past two years (2020-2021 and2019-2020) have been impacted by Covid-19 and results were based on schools assessments of pupils’ likely attainment.
• The school roll used to assess the percentage passes is based on the end of year S4 cohort.  This may disadvantage some schools where greater numbers than average leave after year S4 to take up employment/apprenticeships.

 

Sources and Methods

Schools – Breadth and Depth of Qualifications
https://statistics.gov.scot/data/breadth-and-depth data for years 2015-16 to 2020-21

School Roll Data
https://data.gov.uk/dataset/9a6f9d86-9698-4a5d-a2c8-89f3b212c52c/scottish-school-roll-and-locations

 

Scottish Secondary School Catchment Areas
The catchment areas on this map were provided by Scottish Spatial Hub following a freedom of information request
https://www.spatialhub.scot.
Includes material derived from OS under Open Government Licence
OS data © Crown copyright 2020

Using the Breadth and Depth of Qualifications data for 2020-21 schools were ranked according to percentage of pupils attaining five or more highers passes.  Where schools had the same percentage at that level, the number of pupils obtaining six or more passes was used to differentiate between schools (and seven or more passes where necessary).