Renfrewshire is making a name for itself as a hub of educational excellence in Scotland, with several of its secondary schools recently ranked among the top performers in the country. The prestigious list, compiled by The Sunday Times, ranks schools based on the percentage of pupils achieving the gold standard of five Highers or their equivalent in 2024 and 2025.
High Rankings for Renfrewshire Schools
Among the standout institutions, Mearns Castle High School in East Renfrewshire earned an impressive second place, while Woodfarm High School, also located in East Renfrewshire, secured the third spot. These schools have consistently demonstrated strong academic performances, contributing to Renfrewshire’s strong presence in the rankings.
In addition, Jordanhill School—located in the West End of Glasgow, although technically outside Renfrewshire—once again took the top position, marking its eighth consecutive year at the summit. Jordanhill’s consistent success has solidified its reputation as one of the best schools in Scotland.
Top Performing Regions
The rankings reflect the continued success of regions like East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, which together claimed 10 spots within the top 20 schools. This impressive result demonstrates the focus these areas have placed on education, with significant investment in resources and teaching quality.
Addressing the Attainment Gap
However, as the rankings spotlight the academic achievements of certain schools, they also highlight the ongoing issue of the attainment gap between the wealthiest and most disadvantaged students in Scotland. Schools in affluent areas, such as Bearsden Academy, posted exceptional results, with 78% of students achieving the gold standard. In contrast, Drumchapel High, situated just a few miles away, placed much lower at 334th on the list, emphasizing the challenge of overcoming socioeconomic barriers in education.
Expert Views on the Rankings
Keir Bloomer, Chair of the Commission on School Reform think tank, cautioned that the rankings do not provide a complete picture of school quality. According to Bloomer, the list merely reflects the impact of socioeconomic factors on attainment and does not address the deeper issues at play. He pointed out that while Jordanhill may have a higher ranking than schools like Wester Hailes, it benefits from a more privileged student body and the flexibility afforded by its governance model.
Bloomer stressed that Scotland’s education system should focus on raising standards for all students, particularly those in less affluent areas, and should look at reforming the governance of schools to ensure that every child receives the support they need to thrive.
Government’s Role in Education Reform
In response to the rankings, a Scottish government spokesperson emphasized the ongoing efforts to address the attainment gap and invest in education. The government has allocated £4.3 billion for education in this year’s budget, which includes continued funding for the £1 billion Scottish Attainment Challenge. The goal of this initiative is to close the poverty-related attainment gap and ensure that every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed.
The spokesperson highlighted the progress made in areas such as literacy and numeracy, with record levels of achievement in schools, as well as the lowest recorded attainment gap for literacy in primary schools.
Moving Forward
While the rankings celebrate the achievements of top-performing schools, the real challenge for Scotland lies in ensuring that every child has access to the same level of opportunity. As the country continues to invest in education, it must focus not only on supporting the best-performing schools but also on giving underfunded and smaller schools the resources they need to help close the attainment gap and offer equal opportunities for all students.
