The 10 best high schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians which are overperforming government benchmarks
Here, we take a look at 10 state high schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians which are outperforming government-set benchmarks for the proportion of pupils passing five or more Highers.
League tables are often seen as a blunt instrument to measure exam performance, as they fail to take into account the types of pupil attending each school. As a result, the Scottish Government sets benchmarks to take this into account.
Schools are each given a ‘virtual comparator’ – a group of pupils from elsewhere in Scotland with the same characteristics as the pupils in the school, in terms of their gender, the number with additional support needs and societal factors such as deprivation levels. The attainment levels of this comparator group is then used as a benchmark to measure the school’s actual performance against. Here are ten of the schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians that performed better than their virtual comparator in 2022.
Schools are each given a ‘virtual comparator’ – a group of pupils from elsewhere in Scotland with the same characteristics as the pupils in the school, in terms of their gender, the number with additional support needs and societal factors such as deprivation levels. The attainment levels of this comparator group is then used as a benchmark to measure the school’s actual performance against. Here are ten of the schools in Edinburgh and the Lothians that performed better than their virtual comparator in 2022.
5. Armadale Academy
Reflecting their motto of 'Learning Together Achieving Together' Armadale Academy in West Lothian saw 52 per cent of pupils leave with five or more highers last year - nearly 20 per cent higher than the government's expectations. Photo: Third Party
6. Musselburgh Grammar School
Musselburgh Grammar School was the only school in East Lothian to surpass government expectations last year with 33 per cent of school leavers achieving five or more Highers. Photo: Third Party
7. Drummond Community High School
Drummond Community High School prides itself on 'Nurturing Big Ambitions' and last year saw 34 per cent of pupils leaving the city centre school with five highers of more. Photo: Kim Traynor Photo: submitted
8. Holy Rood RC High School
Last year 38 per cent of school leavers from Holy Rood High School left with five Highers or more. Photo: submitted