Councils believe figures around achieving five Highers or more are not the only measure of success for schools or young people.
The official statistics show the number of youngsters from schools across the north and north-east achieving despite the cancellation of exams due to Covid-19.
Cults Academy in Aberdeen is top of our league table with Banchory Academy, Aberdeen Grammar School, Glen Urquhart High School and Mallaig High School.
Northfield Academy is bottom of the listings with Inverness High School, Lochside Academy, Speyside High School and Turriff Academy making up the end of the list.
But councils said results aren’t the only measuring stick, with more school leavers are going onto so-called positive destinations across the north and north-east.
Education boss praises pupils
Laurence Findlay, Aberdeenshire Council’s Director of Education and Children’s Services, feels the data shows that young people have adapted to changing circumstances brought on by the coronavirus crisis.
He said it shows their resilience in difficult times with the traditional exams being scrapped.
Mr Findlay said: “I am pleased that the information released by the Scottish Government today shows that Aberdeenshire is performing well when it comes to pupils obtaining qualifications before leaving school.
“I am delighted to see that in Aberdeenshire the percentage of school leavers finding employment or studying in further or higher education is 96%.
“Young people have shown tremendous resilience given the constraints posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Support provided by teachers, staff, parents, and carers during this uncertain and unpredictable times should not go unrecognised.”
‘Data does not reflect improvement efforts’
Highland Council said the figures alone do not show what is going on in individual schools and other factors need to be considered.
She said: “It is important to look at a range of different data sources together with information about an individual school to understand how well a school is doing.
“This is because all schools are unique and have their own local circumstances.
“The statistical data alone, while indicating room for improvement, does not reflect all that the school is doing in terms of achievement, wellbeing and positive destinations.”
Moray Council to ‘interrogate’ statistics
A spokeswoman for Moray Council said they would look closely at the figures and use it to improve for their pupils.
She said: “The percentage of learners achieving at various levels is determined by a number of factors, not least a mix of year-groups working towards attaining at different levels, which would impact the data.
“As always we celebrate the achievements of all our pupils – those reflected in exam results and those which aren’t, but are of no less merit.
“Our specialist education officers will interrogate this latest data and continue to work closely with and support schools to achieve the best outcomes for all learners.”
Island councils hail achievements of youngsters
Shetland Islands Council said: “Attainment across national qualifications in Shetland remains positive and stable compared with previous years.
In particular, performance at National 5 has improved consistently over a number of years.
We are confident in the integrity of our 2021 attainment in Shetland, having followed closely the Alternative Certification Model guidelines from the SQA.
We commend the work of all our learners and staff during the pandemic.”
A spokeswoman for Orkney Islands Council said that moving onto university was a “less common choice” for school leavers on the islands.
She said they use live tracking and monitoring to assess a school’s performance.
The spokeswoman said: “It is important to stress that league table results – in this case five-plus Highers – are not the only measure of a school’s success.
“To understand how well a school is doing it is important to look at a range of different sources, together with information about the individual school.”
Aberdeen City Council have been approached for comment.
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