Using data for individual schools as league tables implies that the schools at the top of the table are the best in Scotland and those at the bottom, the worst. This is misleading because schools often operate in very different circumstances, such as different numbers of children with additional support needs, or different job opportunites for school leavers depending on location. The context of a school should be taken into account when considering how well a school is doing. The best way to judge the performance of a school when using this dataset is to compare a school to its 'virtual comparator'. The 'virtu\u200Bal comparator' is a sample group of pupils from other parts of Scotland who have the same characteristics as the young people in the corresponding school. This is fairer than comparing one school directly with another.
A comprehensive glossary of terms associated with education can be found on the [Parentzone Scotland website](https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/my-school/education-glossary/)
The average total tariff score, and percentage of school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) Quintile\t\t\t\t\t
The presentation of school level data here ensures that individual children cannot be identified. Where data is missing from tables in this dataset, it has been omitted to preserve the confidentiality of individuals.
In a very small number of cases, pupil postcodes were missing or invalid, and in these cases the postcode of the school has been used instead.
Attainment is the measurable progress which children and young people make as they advance through and beyond school, and the development of the range of skills, knowledge and attributes needed to succeed in learning, life and work. In this dataset, attainment is measured as the average total tariff score of school leavers. The number and level of qualifications a young person gains by the point they leave school provides a\u00A0[tariff score](https://education.gov.scot/parentzone/my-school/education-glossary/). These figures are brought together to provide an average total tariff score for the school. Only the latest and best awards in each subject are counted in the tariff score. For example if someone has an award at National 4 and National 5 in English, it is only the National 5 award that will count towards this measure. Average total tariff score for each school is broken down by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) Quintile, based on the home postcode of each school leaver. The SIMD enables schools to map their performance against the social context in which they operate. The SIMD identifies small area concentrations of multiple deprivation across Scotland. It is based on data zones (small area geographical units) and provides an assessment of multiple deprivation based on income, employment, health, education, housing, access to services and levels of crime in the area. It provides a relative measure of deprivation which means that the data zones can be ranked from most to least deprived and cut offs can be applied to identify different levels of deprivation. The calculation of quintiles means that the data zones have been ranked and split into five equal parts with quintile 1 being the most deprived 20% and quintile 5 being the least deprived 20%. Based on the postcode of the school leaver from the Pupil Census, it is possible to identify which data zone the school leaver lives in and therefore which deprivation decile. This allows us to look at attainment across the school by level of deprivation. Data is for senior phase (S4-S6) leavers from publicly funded secondary and grant aided secondary schools. This includes a small number of pupils who are on the roll of the school but attend full-time courses or further education outside of the school. For some data points, a special character is provided instead of a number. These have the meaning: * 'NA' - data not available * '*' - the value has been hidden for disclosure reasons * '#' - data not available because the school is a junior high school with no year S5 or S6
The average total tariff score, and percentage of school leavers by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) Quintile.
Data file for Schools - Attainment by Deprivation