Schools by area › Aberdeenshire › Mearns Academy
Mearns Academy
Secondary · Ages 11–18 · Council school
Aberdeen Road, Laurencekirk, KINCARDINESHIRE AB30 1ZJ · mearns.aberdeenshire.sch.uk · 01561 400700
On the mapSearch near AB30 1ZJ
Overview
- Leavers, 2024/25
- 91%
- in a positive destination · virtual comparator 96%, Scotland 96%
- Pupils
- 677
- September 2025 census
- Local authority
- Aberdeenshire
- Departments
- Secondary
- Denomination
- Non-denominational
- Medium of education
- English medium
- Special unit
- Has an integrated special unit
- Teachers
- 54.2
- Full-time equivalent
- Pupils per teacher
- 12.5
- Additional support needs
- 199 pupils (29%)
- English as an additional language
- Too few to publish
- Free school meals, P6 and older
- 13.6% (92 pupils)
- Most deprived areas
- 0%
- Most deprived fifth (SIMD)
From the Scottish Government’s school contact details, school level summary statistics and School Roll and Locations, and its leaver results (data.gov.scot).
Results
91% of the pupils who left Mearns Academy in 2024/25 were in a positive destination (higher or further education, training, employment, voluntary work or an activity agreement), against 96% for its virtual comparator, a matched group of similar pupils from other schools and 96% across Scotland.
73% left with literacy and numeracy at SCQF level 5 or better (virtual comparator 68%).
Scotland’s own measures, not GCSE or A level results, and never set beside England’s. The virtual comparator is not a school.
Middle 60% attainment for all (tariff points)
| 2024/25 · 128 leavers | Trend | School | Scotland | Comparator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment for all (tariff points) | ||||
| ▲165 | 132 | 155 | ||
| ▼777 | 874 | 770 | ||
| ▼1,756 | 1,965 | 1,894 | ||
| Literacy and numeracy | ||||
| ▲95% | 89% | 90% | ||
| Literacy, level 4+ | hidden | 93% | hidden | |
| ▲96% | 91% | 92% | ||
| ▲73% | 70% | 68% | ||
| ●80% | 82% | 83% | ||
| ▲81% | 73% | 72% | ||
| Where leavers went | ||||
| ▼91% | 96% | 96% | ||
hidden: too few pupils to publish
Inspection
Education Scotland’s latest graded inspection on file (inspection, report published 15 March 2011) graded it 1 to 6 on each quality indicator: Improvements in performance 5 (very good); Learners’ experiences 5 (very good); Meeting learning needs 5 (very good); The curriculum 4 (good); Improvement through self-evaluation 5 (very good).
- Report published
- 15 Mar 2011
- Inspection · Education Scotland
Quality indicators
| Improvements in performance | 5 · Very good |
|---|---|
| Learners’ experiences | 5 · Very good |
| Meeting learning needs | 5 · Very good |
| The curriculum | 4 · Good |
| Improvement through self-evaluation | 5 · Very good |