COMPARING the raw data of exam results “does not reflect the excellent achievement and attainment” happening at the county’s schools, the council’s head of education has stressed.

Performance data released by Education Scotland highlights how East Lothian’s six secondary schools are performing.

The figures show how many pupils leaving school in 2016/17 – whether at the end of fifth or sixth year – earned three or more Highers.

At North Berwick High School (74 per cent compared to 66 per cent in the previous year gained three or more Highers), Knox Academy (65 per cent compared to 61) and Dunbar Grammar School (61 per cent compared to 56), the figures show an improvement on the 2015/16 statistics.

However, there have been slight year-on-year drops at the three other county secondary schools. Musselburgh Grammar School is now at 40 per cent compared to 43, Preston Lodge High School 37 per cent compared to 44, and Ross High School 37 per cent compared to 41.

Fiona Robertson, head of education at East Lothian Council, said: “Figures presented in this way unfortunately do not reflect the excellent achievement and attainment happening year-on-year in our secondary schools.

"Comparing the results from one academic session to the previous session does not take account of the particular strengths of cohorts year on year and the progression from Broad General Education through to the Senior Phase.

"In East Lothian, our main focus is on raising attainment across the board for all of our pupils and on our schools being as inclusive as possible.

"Each of our six secondary schools are set in very different communities and offer different flexible senior phase, pathways making direct comparisons of attainment extremely complex locally and nationally.”

The figures also include a ‘virtual comparator’ for each of the schools.

Education Scotland creates the virtual comparator to look at how a school should be performing, given a range of factors including the social and economic background of pupils. Each school is then compared to another from somewhere in the country with a similar mix of pupils to see how they match up.

Both Knox Academy and Dunbar Grammar School are performing above their benchmark comparator, with North Berwick High School, Musselburgh Grammar School and Ross High School within three per cent.

Preston Lodge High School sits 13 per cent short of its comparator.

Ms Robertson added: “The virtual comparator does not take account of the curriculum model/presentations policy of the schools that they come from.

“A percentage point above or below the virtual comparator may also not be considered statistically significant.

“The inclusive approach taken by East Lothian to include young people in specialist provision within our mainstream settings also mean that a straight like-for-like comparison of exam results is always going to be inappropriate and unfair and absolutely not reflective of the quality of achievement.

“However, it is important to stress that we are in no way complacent and we aim to provide the best education service through a relentless focus on inclusion, achievement, ambition and progress for all.”

2016/17 figures for 3+ Highers

  • North Berwick High School - 74% (benchmark comparitor 75% - NOT ACHIEVED)
  • Knox Academy - 65% (benchmark comparitor 61% - ACHIEVED)
  • Dunbar Grammar School - 61% (benchmark comparitor 59% - ACHIEVED)
  • Musselburgh Grammar School - 40% (benchmark comparitor 41% - NOT ACHIEVED)
  • Preston Lodge High School - 37% (benchmark comparitor 50% - NOT ACHIEVED)
  • Ross High School - 37% (benchmark comparitor 40% - NOT ACHIEVED)

2015/16 figures for 3+ Highers

  • North Berwick High School - 66% (benchmark comparitor 67% - NOT ACHIEVED)
  • Knox Academy - 61% (benchmark comparitor 59% - ACHIEVED)
  • Dunbar Grammar School - 56% (benchmark comparitor 55% - ACHIEVED)
  • Preston Lodge High School - 44% (benchmark comparitor 46% - NOT ACHIEVED)
  • Musselburgh Grammar School - 43% (benchmark comparitor 45% - NOT ACHIEVED)
  • Ross High School - 41% (benchmark comparitor 43% - NOT ACHIEVED)