East Ayrshire primary school ranked in Times league table

Information published by The Times scores schools out of 400, based on the percentage of pupils up to standard in reading, writing, numeracy, and combined listening-and-talking.

But council bosses say tables like this are not helpful in fully displaying the work and efforts of everyone connected with the primary schools.

The league table ranks the 1,197 schools that submitted data, with a number of local primary schools included.

Schools with a higher proportion of deprived pupils are weighted to rise up the league table to recognise their achievement in delivering a good education despite the challenges of poverty, as the table looks at the percentage of pupils within the school deemed to be "very deprived".

Top of the area's schools were Drongan and New Cumnock primaries, both scoring 370 out of a possible 400 - ranking them in 295th and 296th for Scotland.

Both schools were said to have between 40 and 50 per cent of "very deprived" pupils.

Auchinleck's St Patrick's Primary School was graded 360 out of 400, placing it in 427th.

Auchinleck Primary School scored 350, with 80-90 per cent of pupils in the "very deprived" category, meaning it ranked 551st.

Mauchline PS also scored 350, but ranked lower in the table as it only had 10-20 per cent of "very deprived" pupils.

Netherthird came in at 693rd, with a score of 340.

Lochnorris also scored 340, with 20-30 per cent of its pupils "very deprived".

A full list of East Ayrshire primaries in the table, with their ranking, score out 400 and level of "very deprived" pupils:

• Hurlford Primary School (2nd): 400/400: 60-70 per cent
• Loanhead Primary School (101st): 390/400: 20-30 per cent
• Darvel Primary School (150th): 390/400: 0-10 per cent
• Kilmaurs Primary School (151st): 390/400: 0-10 per cent
• Drongan Primary School (295th): 370/400: 40-50 per cent
• New Cumnock Primary School (296th): 370/400: 40-50 per cent
• Galston Primary School (312th): 370/400: 20-30 per cent
• Dunlop Primary School (382nd): 370/400: 0-10 per cent
• Lainshaw Primary School (383rd): 370/400: 0-10 per cent
• Gargieston Primary School (284th): 370/400: 0-10 per cent
• St Patrick's Primary School (427th): 360/400: 50-60 per cent
• Annanhill Primary School (478th): 360/400: 10-20 per cent
• Crosshouse Primary School (535th): 360/400: 0-10 per cent
• Nether Robertland Primary School (536th): 360/400: 0-10 per cent
• Auchinleck Primary School (551st): 350/400: 80-90 per cent
• Mauchline Primary School (608th): 350/400: 10-20 per cent
• Netherthird Primary School (693rd): 340/400: 40-50 per cent
• Whatriggs Primary School (700th): 340/400: 30-40 per cent
• Lochnorris Primary School (710th): 340/400: 20-30 per cent
• Shortlees Primary School (782nd): 330/400: 90 plus per cent
• Onthank Primary School (810th): 330/400: 40-50 per cent
• James Hamilton Primary School (928th): 320/400: 20-30 per cent
• Mount Carmel Primary School (1118th): 280/400: 50-60 per cent
• Hillhead Primary School (1146th): 270/400: 60-70 per cent
• St Andrew's Primary School (1155th): 270/400: 30-40 per cent

Dale Miller, acting editor of The Sunday Times Scotland, said: “We are always careful to clarify that The Times Scotland Primary School League Table is not ‘Scotland’s schools ranked from best to worst’.  

 “It presents government data from primary seven, arguably the most important year for pupils preparing for high school, for parents to analyse standards across the 1,197 schools that published reportable results.  

“Our aim is to present data in an easily accessible format that parents can understand.” 

The council says these kinds of tables are "not supportive", and work is always ongoing to ensure kids have are supported as much as possible to reach their potential.

An East Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: "East Ayrshire Council is aware of the most recent league table from The Times for primary schools.

"The Scottish Government does not produce school league tables to measure performance.

"Any practice of producing league tables of schools nationally and at authority level is not supportive, nor representative, of the efforts of children, parents, staff and communities.  

"The council's aim is to ensure that all children from the beginning of their journey in Education are supported and enabled to reach their full potential."