Scottish secondary school league tables as published annually by the Scottish Government and reported widely by the press (and indeed this website in full: see Scotland’s Secondary School League Tables).  They are a one year snapshot of school pupil performance based on data published annually by the Education Dept on a Scottish Government website.   The data published by the Scottish Government is difficult to extract even for seasoned data professionals and many papers only report on the data first published by The Times.  In a single year, a schools’ performance can shift dramatically from one year to another, occasionally by over one hundred positions.  This post attempts to address Scottish schools’ pupil performance over a number of years in order to provide a more balanced and longer term view of how well a school is performing.

In this webpage:

Top 10 Scottish Schools: Position by Rank 2023
Results for the past five years in an interactive table
Schools with Regular Top 25 Places in League Tables
Schools with Regular Top 50 Places in League Tables
Schools that have Improved by 50 Places over Previous Average
Schools that have Dropped by 50 Places over Previous Average

Top 10 Scottish Schools: Position by Rank 2023

Rank data for 347 schools from the Scottish Government’s website was analysed.  Of the top 10 schools by rank in 2023 (Jordanhill School, Bearsden Academy, St Ninian’s High School, Woodfarm High School, Douglas Academy, Cults Academy, Williamwood High School, Mearns Castle High School, Boroughmuir High School, Bishopbriggs Academy) only one school (Woodfarm High School) was out of the top 20 schools by rank during the previous four years.  The remaining nine all achieved top 20 places over the five year period 2023 to 2019 (laptop users Table 1 & Table 2:  mobile users Table 2 due to the large size of Table 1).

Results for the past five years in an interactive table

Table 1 contains Scottish secondary school ranks for the past five years.  When loaded it has sorted the schools alphabetically by school name.  You can re-order the data by clicking in the column header.  There is also a facility to search for a particular school.

Table 1, Interactive and searchable table of current (2023) and previous years ranks

Schoolname	5 Highers And Above	rank 2023	rank 2022	rank 2021	rank 2020	rank 2019
Jordanhill School	89	1	1	1	1	1
Bearsden Academy	80	2	2	6	5	8
St Ninian's High School	79	3	3	3	4	3
Woodfarm High School	78	4	11	31	17	28
Douglas Academy	75	5	16	14	7	9
Cults Academy	74	6	4	8	15	18
Williamwood High School	73	7	5	7	9	5
Mearns Castle High School	73	8	15	5	2	4
Boroughmuir High School	70	9	12	9	6	6
Bishopbriggs Academy	69	10	10	10	11	12
Linlithgow Academy	68	11	20	11	23	21
Eastwood High School	68	12	13	17	14	32
Gryffe High School	67	13	8	2	10	7
McLaren High School	67	14	84	70	40	23
Boclair Academy	66	15	9	28	31	11
Dunblane High School	66	16	7	4	3	2
Moffat Academy	65	17	43	26	30	229
Turnbull High School	65	18	18	21	19	26
Strathaven Academy	62	19	32	30	22	15
Balfron High School	62	20	24	20	21	13
The Royal High School	62	21	14	35	41	36
Hyndland Secondary School	61	22	23	43	27	33
James Gillespie's High School	61	23	31	15	12	50
Notre Dame High School	60	24	35	25	34	39
Aberdeen Grammar School	59	25	33	22	36	16
Westhill Academy	58	26	68	29	134	24
St Thomas Of Aquin's High School	58	27	22	44	20	100
Earlston High School	58	28	39	16	29	47
The James Young High School	57	29	21	18	26	78
St Margaret's Academy	57	30	38	24	43	52
Braes High School	57	31	26	62	91	141
Hillhead High School	57	32	146	109	102	185
Lenzie Academy	56	33	17	13	16	17
West Calder High School	56	34	41	12	24	51
Banchory Academy	56	35	25	41	18	14
Firrhill High School	56	36	28	32	35	49
Peebles High School	56	37	36	40	67	20
Ullapool High School	56	38	71	160	106	77
Whitburn Academy	55	39	56	82	46	121
Barrhead High School	55	40	128	46	82	178
St Andrew's and St Bride's High School	55	41	63	49	84	29
Glasgow Gaelic School	55	42	6	19	8	10
Oldmachar Academy	54	43	145	72	209	27
Tarbert Academy	54	44	42	38	214	42
Breadalbane Academy	54	45	64	101	85	137
Islay High School	53	46	245	147	127	259
Clydeview Academy	53	47	105	64	32	38
Mallaig High School	53	48	55	55	76	283
Armadale Academy	52	49	45	89	148	170
Currie Community High School	52	50	27	51	72	35
Dalziel High School	52	51	46	47	47	25
Glen Urquhart High School	52	52	34	27	101	158
Milne's High School	51	53	118	78	178	93
Wallace Hall Academy	51	54	66	53	48	72
North Berwick High School	51	55	19	39	13	30
Kinross High School	51	56	44	79	60	86
Madras College	51	57	30	86	39	61
Broxburn Academy	50	58	50	210	68	67
Our Lady's High School - Cumbernauld	50	59	61	45	54	37
Largs Academy	50	60	40	23	61	59
Craigmount High School	50	61	65	65	62	41
Farr High School	50	62	341	253	338	342
St Ambrose High School	49	63	141	76	70	88
Bathgate Academy	49	64	104	67	166	181
Park Mains High School	49	65	132	126	173	92
Dumfries High School	49	66	134	155	208	172
Marr College	49	67	67	33	55	104
Holy Cross High School	49	68	86	77	28	84
St Joseph's College	49	69	69	34	44	134
Monifieth High School	49	70	29	50	57	40
Alford Academy	49	71	70	105	111	98
Arran High School	49	72	80	196	92	112
Balerno Community High School	48	73	37	56	37	34
St Matthew's Academy	48	74	82	164	165	183
Wallace High School	48	75	157	88	64	60
Inveralmond Community High School	48	76	72	61	50	110
Perth High School	48	77	88	74	95	106
Lasswade High School Centre	47	78	121	84	79	85
Grantown Grammar School	47	79	186	127	138	111
Bannockburn High School	46	80	222	238	262	302
Belmont Academy	46	81	109	97	143	103
St Ninian's High School	46	82	48	48	25	82
Inverurie Academy	46	83	93	135	264	197
Aboyne Academy	46	84	96	37	49	57
Mearns Academy	46	85	60	132	136	54
Hermitage Academy	46	86	75	87	52	62
Castlehead High School	45	87	142	312	216	179
Larbert High School	45	88	73	107	56	69
Culloden Academy	45	89	126	193	116	73
Kilsyth Academy	45	90	240	136	256	173
Kyle Academy	45	91	92	58	58	56
The Community School of Auchterarder	45	92	52	52	78	58
Port Glasgow High School	44	93	263	162	194	225
Prestwick Academy	44	94	77	95	69	89
St Maurice's High School	44	95	79	42	51	64
Notre Dame High School	44	96	175	190	144	107
Waid Academy	44	97	133	121	110	176
Greenfaulds High School	44	98	123	100	120	100
Mackie Academy	44	99	111	73	96	31
Duncanrig Secondary School	44	100	81	103	73	119
Fortrose Academy	44	101	102	75	33	135
Grove Academy	44	102	49	66	59	74
Biggar High School	43	103	78	182	45	99
Chryston High School	43	104	87	117	129	211
Uddingston Grammar School	43	105	189	115	140	102
Millburn Academy	43	106	95	145	103	79
Kingussie High School	43	107	160	174	188	146
Meldrum Academy	43	108	153	128	135	113
Trinity Academy	43	109	152	63	53	161
Crieff High School	43	110	100	59	200	95
Graeme High School	42	111	185	167	100	123
St Kentigern's Academy	42	112	62	69	71	97
Falkirk High School	42	113	150	213	163	160
Our Lady & St Patrick's High School	42	114	174	180	63	90
Carluke High School	42	115	158	247	241	203
Portobello High School	42	116	110	144	109	169
Kirkcudbright Academy	42	117	139	294	88	212
Queen Margaret Academy	41	118	91	106	66	116
St Luke's High School	41	119	120	71	38	44
St Mungo's RC High School	41	120	90	111	77	68
Dalbeattie High School	41	121	218	91	93	53
Trinity High School	41	122	51	94	132	130
Hamilton Grammar School	41	123	98	200	81	83
Inverkeithing High School	41	124	101	142	90	70
Renfrew High School	41	125	122	204	108	187
Queensferry Community High School	41	126	107	116	118	46
Our Lady's High School - Motherwell	41	127	202	99	151	71
Kemnay Academy	41	128	103	129	94	45
Dunfermline High School	40	129	129	189	133	155
Calderglen High School	40	130	94	90	139	200
Kirkintilloch High School	40	131	47	161	179	22
Portree High School	40	132	244	57	293	304
St Aidan's High School	40	133	191	110	159	129
St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School	39	134	114	139	42	96
Deans Community High School	39	135	113	122	89	167
Paisley Grammar School	39	136	57	68	114	105
Shawlands Academy	39	137	74	205	115	154
Cathkin High School	39	138	137	173	145	190
Gleniffer High School	39	139	83	133	86	131
Glenrothes High School	39	140	207	285	220	159
Holyrood Secondary School	39	141	131	140	171	81
Anderson High School	39	142	99	81	74	94
Bannerman High School	38	143	241	96	168	166
Holy Rood RC High School	38	144	259	163	128	218
Kilmarnock Academy	38	145	230	249	142
Alva Academy	38	146	229	177	125	175
Hazlehead Academy	38	147	285	153	190	213
Harris Academy	38	148	161	131	121	235
Dalkeith High School	38	149	326	149	230	143
Denny High School	38	150	159	267	263	202
Trinity High School	38	151	272	221	197	153
Inverness Royal Academy	38	152	262	134	174	150
St Columba's High School	38	153	173	143	107	80
Grange Academy	38	154	200	256	204	122
Lesmahagow High School	38	155	243	248	212	164
Castle Douglas High School	38	156	176	137	117	237
Ellon Academy	38	157	97	98	183	108
Woodmill High School	37	158	119	191	83	151
Castlemilk High School	37	159	248	201	282	249
Carrick Academy	37	160	130	150	258	241
Thurso High School	37	161	227	175	300	180
All Saints Secondary School	37	162	249	242	281	309
Bellahouston Academy	37	163	184	220	234	248
St Modan's High School	37	164	203	141	119	281
Bell Baxter High School	37	165	179	158	172	126
Stirling High School	37	166	85	93	126	115
Knox Academy	37	167	54	120	98	65
Larkhall Academy	36	168	196	114	291	233
Airdrie Academy	36	169	138	237	147	250
St John Ogilvie High School	36	170	125	151	65	136
St Joseph's Academy	36	171	201	171	238	236
Beeslack Community High School	36	172	224	172	149	191
Webster's High School	36	173	59	113	150	124
Cumbernauld Academy	36	174	164	154	122	109
Galashiels Academy	36	175	252	157	251	138
Perth Grammar School	36	176	323	258	274	240
Stewarton Academy	36	177	190	198	105	63
St Benedict's High School	35	178	76	108	181	288
Johnstone High School	35	179	117	217	272	174
St Andrew's Secondary School	35	180	182	254	191	128
Stonelaw High School	35	181	106	178	279	148
Hawick High School	35	182	260	300	299	306
Dumbarton Academy	35	183	282	236	161	182
Lossiemouth High School	35	184	163	252	304	216
Stromness Academy	35	185	208	194	201	75
Broughton High School	35	186	148	130	260	198
Dunbar Grammar School	35	187	53	80	75	91
Oban High School	34	188	124	123	237	244
Clydebank High School	34	189	237	228	267	270
Lourdes Secondary School	34	190	143	185	242	219
King's Park Secondary School	34	191	172	243	153	152
Kirkwall Grammar School	34	192	149	218	170	225
Ardrossan Academy	34	193	306	317	297	317
St Andrew's Academy	34	194	135	152	146	186
Coatbridge High School	34	195	239	265	244	231
Drummond Community High School	34	196	265	261	261	214
St Peter the Apostle High School	34	197	242	215	236	208
Greenwood Academy	34	198	231	202	285	199
Dunoon Grammar School	34	199	233	119	182	165
Perth Academy	34	200	178	219	113	147
Harlaw Academy	34	201	235	159	270	210
Lanark Grammar School	33	202	115	188	152	140
Loudoun Academy	33	203	198	216	155	177
St John's RC Academy	33	204	144	118	123	205
The Gordon Schools	33	205	187	268	225	189
Bo'ness Academy	33	206	210	197	184	245
St Andrew's High School	33	207	251	199	222	232
Musselburgh Grammar School	33	208	209	245	124	193
Taylor High School	33	209	151	92	87	125
Buckie High School	33	210	246	307	280	269
Coltness High School	33	211	217	226	220	221
Plockton High School	33	212	204	125	97	55
St Margaret's High School	32	213	116	214	203	133
Bucksburn Academy	32	214	177	124	269	262
Alloa Academy	32	215	214	314	271	264
Golspie High School	32	216	213	138	284	209
Liberton High School	32	217	170	313	232	315
Lochaber High School	32	218	197	308	196	217
Tobermory High School	32	219	273	60	99	120
Tain Royal Academy	32	220	127	240	287	132
Balwearie High School	32	221	136	156	104	149
Garnock Community Campus	32	222	266	222	250	192
John Paul Academy	31	223	155	225	266	252
Bellshill Academy	31	224	276	302	217	228
Elgin Academy	31	225	188	181	187	48
Ross High School	31	226	211	287	224	277
Carnoustie High School	31	227	267	234	199	139
Langholm Academy	31	228	247	102	211	19
Portlethen Academy	31	229	147	112	189	156
St David's RC High School	31	230	205	233	246	144
Morgan Academy	31	231	281	291	289	311
Selkirk High School	31	232	194	192	158	114
Linwood High School	30	233	328	334	318	313
Ardnamurchan High School	30	234	181	54	338	342
Kilwinning Academy	30	235	225	241	239	163
Dumfries Academy	30	236	169	224	130	117
Caldervale High School	30	237	236	271	245	265
Bridge Of Don Academy	30	238	192	146	193	207
Inverclyde Academy	30	239	250	230	198	310
Girvan Academy	30	240	238	297	164	286
Kelso High School	30	241	58	272	215	162
Cleveden Secondary School	30	242	299	244	233	275
St Augustine's High School	30	243	232	176	205	295
St John's RC High School	29	244	300	212	207	230
Berwickshire High School	29	245	162	187	180	142
Auchmuty High School	29	246	320	293	240	184
Dornoch Academy	29	247	168	148	286	171
St Margaret Mary's Secondary School	28	248	311	274	321	342
Elgin High School	28	249	295	179	278	220
Cardinal Newman High School	28	250	108	85	112	87
St Roch's Secondary School	28	251	307	315	257	294
Leith Academy	28	252	221	231	235	282
Arbroath High School	28	253	256	207	202	196
Queen Anne High School	28	254	220	209	162	195
Nairn Academy	28	255	296	206	186	118
St Machar Academy	27	256	314	262	311	323
Braidhurst High School	27	257	316	323	306	335
Viewforth High School	27	258	308	328	195	322
Rothesay Academy	27	259	302	325	210	293
Preston Lodge High School	27	260	223	295	316	253
The Nicolson Institute	27	261	165	186	141	224
Knightswood Secondary School	27	262	212	286	283	312
St Columba's R C High School	27	263	303	266	307	215
Kirkcaldy High School	27	264	269	264	192	242
Penicuik High School	27	265	167	229	137	222
Tynecastle High School	27	266	258	306	273	300
Lockerbie Academy	27	267	166	208	157	263
Brae High School	27	268	140	341	131	274
Forres Academy	26	269	193	169	156	227
Rosshall Academy	26	270	275	283	218	246
Speyside High School	26	271	315	166	154	301
Sanquhar Academy	26	272	310	318	177	297
Annan Academy	26	273	271	281	226	239
Grangemouth High School	26	274	253	277	176	234
Irvine Royal Academy	26	275	321	326	330	260
Banff Academy	26	276	279	278	223	168
Sir E Scott School	26	277	216	36	80	66
Auchenharvie Academy	25	278	228	195	323	222
Dyce Academy	25	279	89	184	175	279
Charleston Academy	25	280	215	104	160	145
Stranraer Academy	25	281	291	269	310	266
Gairloch High School	25	282	112	223	213	76
Kinlochleven High School	25	282	195	263	229	283
Doon Academy	24	284	290	255	312	247
Newbattle High School	24	285	305	310	334	314
Lochgelly High School	24	286	284	289	322	285
St Paul's RC Academy	24	287	332	282	309	308
Douglas Ewart High School	24	288	261	246	219	255
St Paul's High School	24	289	336	324	317	318
St Mungo's Academy	24	290	268	211	231	321
Craigie High School	24	291	330	331	325	316
St Andrew's R C High School	24	292	277	270	268	157
Dingwall Academy	24	293	294	182	249	204
Fraserburgh Academy	24	294	297	239	254	289
Glenwood High School	23	295	156	165	335	299
St Stephen's High School	23	296	199	273	290	273
Lochend Community High School	23	297	319	336	337	339
Turriff Academy	23	298	313	309	276	201
Jedburgh Grammar School	23	299	234	170	275	297
Eyemouth High School	23	300	180	288	227	272
Ayr Academy	23	301	183	319	329	324
Montrose Academy	23	302	154	298	248	206
Campbeltown Grammar School	23	303	280	335	255	268
Mintlaw Academy	23	304	226	227	252	276
Calderside Academy	22	305	292	296	259	261
Smithycroft Secondary School	22	306	298	316	319	292
Vale Of Leven Academy	22	307	255	250	302	277
Hillpark Secondary School	22	308	270	280	301	254
Brannock High School	22	309	254	235	243	279
Drumchapel High School	22	310	219	284	328	327
Forfar Academy	22	311	288	260	305	256
Peterhead Academy	22	312	309	321	303	251
Blairgowrie High School	21	313	257	168	185	188
Robert Burns Academy	21	314	287
Whitehill Secondary School	21	315	286	251	206	271
Lochgilphead High School	20	316	324	203	295	238
Lornshill Academy	20	317	317	304	308	303
Wick High School	20	318	289	279	288	305
Brechin High School	20	319	206	319	292	291
Beath High School	19	320	333	290	277	334
Braeview Academy	19	321	339	333	330	329
Arbroath Academy	18	322	274	305	265	287
Invergordon Academy	18	323	301	232	253	296
Alness Academy	18	324	264	257	313	330
Springburn Academy	18	325	325	301	320	326
Clyde Valley High School	17	326	329	276	294	290
Calderhead High School	17	327	304	303	315	320
Levenmouth Academy	16	328	331	330	332	325
Govan High School	16	329	311	337	298	333
Craigroyston Community High School	15	330	293	340	326	336
Baldragon Academy	15	331	318	275	327	331
Eastbank Academy	14	332	322	329	314	319
Lochside Academy	13	333	335	311	333
Forrester High School	13	334	278	322	296	307
Keith Grammar School	12	335	283	299	169	194
Inverness High School	11	336	338	332	336	337
Sgoil Lionacleit	11	337	171	83	228	257
Gracemount High School	10	338	327	327	324	332
North West Community Campus	9	339	337	341	338
Northfield Academy	0	340	340	339	338	341
Wester Hailes High School	0	340	334	338	338	339
Kilchuimen Academy	0	340	341	341	338	342
Castlebrae Community High School	0	340	341	341	338	342
Castlebay School	0	340	341	341	338	43
Bertha Park High School	0	340
Tiree High School	0	340	341
Kinlochbervie High School	0	340	341	341	338	342

Schools with Regular Top 25 Places in League Tables

When reviewed over a five year period, thirty-one Scottish secondary schools were placed in the top 25 rankings two or more times: Jordanhill School, Bearsden Academy, St Ninian’s High School, Douglas Academy, Cults Academy, Williamwood High School, Mearns Castle High School, Boroughmuir High School, Bishopbriggs Academy, Linlithgow Academy, Gryffe High School, Dunblane High School, Balfron High School, Eastwood High School, Turnbull High School, Lenzie Academy, Glasgow Gaelic School, Woodfarm High School, Boclair Academy, Strathaven Academy, James Gillespie’s High School, Aberdeen Grammar School, Banchory Academy, McLaren High School, The Royal High School, Hyndland Secondary School, Notre Dame High School, St Thomas Of Aquin’s High School, The James Young High School, West Calder High School and North Berwick High School.

Table 2 Schools with Regular Top 25 Places
Table2 shows the school name (Schoolname), the rank for 2023 to 2019 (rank2023 to rank2019),  the Local Authority name (LAName), the average rank over five years (avg) and the number of top 25 places in the previous five years (no_25_places).

Schools with Regular Top 50 Places in League Tables

When reviewed over a five year period, thirty-seven Scottish secondary schools were ranked in the top 50 two or more times: Jordanhill School, Bearsden Academy, St Ninians High School, Woodfarm High School, Douglas Academy, Cults Academy, Williamwood High School, Mearns Castle High School, Boroughmuir High School, Bishopbriggs Academy, Linlithgow Academy, Eastwood High School, Gryffe High School, Boclair Academy, Dunblane High School, Turnbull High School, Strathaven Academy, Balfron High School, The Royal High School, Hyndland Secondary School, James Gillespies High School, Notre Dame High School, Aberdeen Grammar School, Earlston High School, Lenzie Academy, Banchory Academy, Firrhill High School, Glasgow Gaelic School, Moffat Academy, St Thomas Of Aquins High School, The James Young High School, St Margarets Academy, West Calder High School, Peebles High School, Tarbert Academy, Dalziel High School and North Berwick High School.

Table 3 Schools in Regular Top 50 Places
Table3 shows the school name (Schoolname), the rank for 2023 to 2019 (rank2023 to rank2019),  the Local Authority name (LAName), the average rank over five years (avg) and the number of top 50 places in the previous five years (no_50).

Schools that have Improved by 50 Places over Previous Average

Forty-seven Scottish schools have improved by 50 places or more in 2023 ranks compared to the average of ranks for the previous five periods: Farr High School, Bannockburn High School, Port Glasgow High School, Islay High School, All Saints Secondary School, Castlehead High School, Ardrossan Academy, Kilsyth Academy, Castlemilk High School, Hillhead High School, Dumfries High School, Hawick High School, Carluke High School, Linwood High School, Glenrothes High School, St Matthews Academy, Perth Grammar School, Milnes High School, Barrhead High School, Ullapool High School, Inverurie Academy, Portree High School, Armadale Academy, Hazlehead Academy, Denny High School, Falkirk High School, Thurso High School, St Margaret Marys School, Drummond Community High, Buckie High School, Whitburn Academy, Bellahouston Academy, Bathgate Academy, Park Mains High School, Holy Rood RC High School, Coatbridge High School, Tarbert Academy, Braidhurst High School, Notre Dame High School, Oldmachar Academy, Braes High School, Clydebank High School, Morgan Academy, Moffat Academy, Mallaig High School, Larkhall Academy and St Machar Academy.

Table 4  Schools that have Improved by 50 Places

Schools that have Dropped by 50 Places over Previous Average

Forty-eight Scottish schools have dropped by 50 places or more in 2023 ranks compared to the average of ranks for the previous five periods: Sir E Scott School, Sgoil Lionacleit, Cardinal Newman High School, Charleston Academy, Dunbar Grammar School, Dyce Academy, Langholm Academy, The Nicolson Institute, Gairloch High School, Forres Academy, Tobermory High School, Blairgowrie High School, Berwickshire High School, Kelso High School, Keith Grammar School, Dumfries Academy, Portlethen Academy, Plockton High School, Montrose Academy, Knox Academy, Balwearie High School, Dornoch Academy, Elgin Academy, Taylor High School, Bridge Of Don Academy, Lochgilphead High School, Douglas Ewart High School, Queen Anne High School, Websters High School, Speyside High School, Mintlaw Academy, Lockerbie Academy, Stirling High School, Brae High School, Nairn Academy, Forfar Academy, Castlebay School, Selkirk High School, Penicuik High School, Eyemouth High School, St Lukes High School, Anderson High School, Brannock High School, Invergordon Academy, Jedburgh Grammar School, Dingwall Academy, Whitehill Secondary School andSt Margarets High School.

Table 4  Schools that have Dropped by 50 Places

 

Methods

For data sources and methods pleas see: Scotland’s Secondary School League Tables