Barrhead High has been ranked in the top 50 secondary schools in Scotland for a second year running.

It was placed 42nd out of 357 schools in The Times Scotland High School League Table.

A total of 55% of pupils at Barrhead High obtained the Scottish Government’s ‘gold standard’ of five or more Higher passes last year, compared to 43% in 2021.

Meanwhile, St Luke’s High was ranked in 125th place, with 41% of pupils gaining five or more Highers in 2022 – around the same as the previous year.

East Renfrewshire’s dominance as the best performing education authority continued, with four schools in Scotland’s top 10 – an increase from the figure of three achieved in 2021.

St Ninian’s High and Woodfarm High, both in Giffnock, were in third and fourth place respectively, while Williamwood High, in Clarkston, was ranked in seventh spot, with Mearns Castle High, in Newton Mearns, just one place behind.

Mearns Castle High was up from 14th place in 2021.

Eastwood High, also in Newton Mearns, jumped two places to 11th.

A total of 79% of pupils at St Ninian’s High secured five or more Highers.

Mark Ratter, director of education at East Renfrewshire Council, told the Barrhead News: “It is pleasing that the hard work put in by our pupils and staff has once again delivered strong results across the board.

“Our schools provide pupils with a wide range of opportunities which supports them to achieve high levels of success in school and beyond.

“This breakdown of the results highlights that our ongoing support for schools to drive year-on-year improvements for education across East Renfrewshire is having the desired impact.”

Jordanhill School, in Glasgow, was named as Scotland’s top performing secondary for the sixth year running, with 89% of pupils gaining five or more Highers.

It is directly funded by the Scottish Government and is independently governed, as opposed to other schools which are funded by councils that exert more influence over where money can be spent.

Bearsden Academy retained its position in second place, with 80% of ‘gold standard’ pupils.

It was one of three East Dunbartonshire schools in the top 10, alongside Douglas Academy (fifth) and Bishopbriggs Academy (10th).

Cults Academy, in Aberdeen, and Boroughmuir High, in Edinburgh, retained their positions in the top 10.

Gryffe High, in Houston, fell out of the top 10 and now occupies 13th place, with 67% of pupils securing five or more Highers.