Ayr Academy is among the bottom performing secondary schools in Scotland according to national league tables.

In figures published last week by The Times, 339 schools across the country were judged on the percentage of pupils to achieve five or more awards at SCQF, the equivalent of highers.

However South Ayrshire Council called league tables a ‘narrow and exclusive approach’ to evaluating education.

Full South Ayrshire list:

  • 62 Kyle Academy - with 46 per cent achieving five or more highers.
  • 97 Prestwick Academy - with 41 per cent achieving five or more highers.
  • 115 Belmont Academy - with 39 per cent achieving five or more highers.
  • 116 Marr College - with 39 per cent achieving five or more highers.
  • 122 Queen Margaret Academy - with 38 per cent achieving five or more highers.
  • 250 - Carrick Academy - with 26 per cent achieving five or more highers.
  • 292 Girvan Academy - with 22 per cent achieving five or more highers.
  • 327 Ayr Academy - with 15 per cent achieving five or more highers.

Douglas Hutchison, SAC’s Director - People, said: “The so-called league tables are based purely on the number of young people achieving five Highers. Young peoples’ success can’t be measured by looking at one part of the picture.

"Taking how many young people got the grades to go on to university, which we all know isn’tfor everyone, as a measure of how well schools are performing is a very narrow and exclusive approach. It is one that is more commonly associated with an English approach to education, but it is not how the education system in Scotland works.

“Our approach is about so much more and is based on achieving positive destinations for all our learners, in line with their own ambitions and what we can support them to achieve. That focus means we get a much more rounded picture of the difference our schools are making for our young people whether they aim to go to university, college, training or the world of work.”