School league tables: Nine in a row, but this year Jordanhill has to share the top spot

By CHRIS MARSHALL
Published on 19/12/2012 00:00

THE only state-funded school in Scotland that is outwith council control has held the top spot in the league tables on its own for much of the past decade.

This time Jordanhill in Glasgow had to share the position with Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh.

The Glasgow school, which is run by an independent board of governors, saw 69 per cent of its pupils leaving with three or more Highers, down from 78 per cent in 2011.

It is the ninth year in a row that Jordanhill has occupied the top spot in The Scotsman’s league table, but the first time it has had to share the honour.

Both Boroughmuir and Jordanhill have relatively small numbers of children receiving free school meals, one of the few useful indicators of the level of deprivation in the surrounding community.

Exam statistics for every secondary school in Scotland were published yesterday on the Scottish Schools Online website, run by Education Scotland. A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “Our young people are leaving school better qualified.

“Higher pass rates rose from 72.9 per cent in 2006 to 78.9 per cent in 2012, demonstrating the strengths of our education. More young people than ever are in positive destinations.”