SCOTTISH private school pupils have recorded their lowest exam pass rates at Higher for five years, new figures show.

Some 92.3 per cent of Highers sat by pupils in the independent sector in 2016 resulted in a pass mark in 2016 compared to 95 per cent the previous year and 93 per cent in the preceding three years. The drop mirrors an overall decline in pass rates at Higher for all schools where the pass rate was 77.2 per cent.

Some 55 per cent of passes resulted in an A grade - a significant decline from the previous year when 60 per cent of exams resulted in an A.

According to The Herald's league tables St Mary's Music School, in Edinburgh, Scotland's only independent specialist music school, came top with all of its pupils who sat Highers passing.

However, the school only had eight students in its fifth form this summer which makes comparisons with other schools difficult.

Second in our table was George Heriot's School in Edinburgh with a pass mark of 97.3 per cent closely followed by St Aloysius' College, in Glasgow, where the pass rate was 97.2 per cent.

Cameron Wylie, principal of George Heriot's, said: "My colleagues and I are delighted by the outstanding performance of our pupils. It is a real tribute to their hard work and the excellence of their teaching.

"This has been a particularly tough year for all teachers in Scotland because of the new exam requirements and it is great to see across that they are coming to terms with the changes and delivering for pupils."

Frank Reilly, head of the senior school at St Aloysius', added: "For our pupils to have achieved the best set of Higher results in college history in the same year we made the transition to the new Higher is really quite extraordinary.

"Our staff have worked tremendously hard to ensure each and every pupil was prepared for all aspects of the new Higher curriculum.

"The unwavering support and commitment of staff has been matched by that of our parents, and as a College community we are all very proud of what our pupils and their children have achieved this year."

Despite the overall decline in pass rates John Edward, director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), which published the figures, said the results were a great testament to the private sector.

He said: "Scotland can be very proud of the attainment of these pupils and schools – the hard work of young, people, families and teachers.

"To some, high attainment in the independent sector will come as little surprise, but it is just part of the rounded individual experience on offer matched by extensive extra-curricular opportunities in sport, music and the arts; as well as personalised guidance on vocational and other life choices."

Just over four per cent of pupils in Scotland attend an independent school and the sector is equivalent in size to the seventh largest local authority in Scotland.

Private schools generally outperform those in the state sector in exams, but many select their pupils on the basis of their academic ability.

PRIVATE SCHOOL HIGHERS LEAGUE TABLES 2016

SCHOOL PASS RATE % CANDIDATES

St Mary's Music School 100 8

George Heriot's School 97.3 180

St Aloysius' College 97.2 142

Craigholme School 97 30

Stewart's Melville College 96.9 123

Glasgow Academy 96.7 107

The Mary Erskine School 96.5 125

Hutchesons' Grammar School 96.4 141

Fernhill School 96 11

High School of Dundee 95.9 115

The High School of Glasgow 95.9 97

St Margaret's School for Girls 95.8 39

Edinburgh Academy 95.2 79

Dollar Academy 95.1 151

Robert Gordon's College 94.8 188

Albyn School 94.2 71

St Columba's Kilmalcolm 94 61

St George's School for Girls 93.5 84

George Watson's College 93.5 217

Wellington School 93 32

Morrison's Academy 92.9 58

Kelvinside Academy 92.5 63

Kilgraston 92.1 46

Hamilton College 90.7 68

Lomond School 84.4 49

Lathallan School 82.6 19

Belmont House 82.4 29

Beaconhurst School 82.2 29