With a picture slide presentation, he gave numerous examples of how Buckhaven fitted the description.
But he did not think it was a good school – he considered Buckhaven High an outstanding school.
Mr McClure's comments came at Wednesday's aw
ard ceremony, where academic prizewinners were honoured for their achievements, along with the installation of the head boy and girl for 2009-10, a farewell address to the departing S6 pupils, and some vocal and instrumental musical entertainment.
The awards were announced by depute rector Grant Whytock and presented by guest speaker Dr Doreen Mitchell, a recently-retired Edinburgh GP and a prefect at Buckhaven 40 years ago.
Mr McClure said a lot of the criteria for "a good school" was met at Methilhaven Road. While Buckhaven High did not have a brand-new building, it had a new entrance and office area, brand-new science labs, a new PE block on its way and a "fabulous array of pupil work throughout the building".
Another measure of success was exam results featuring five or more credit passes. Buckhaven scored 31 per cent, three above the Fife average, which placed it eighth among the Kingdom's secondary schools.
However, alongside its 20 'comparator schools' across Scotland, it was top of the same league.
Good order was another factor on which schools were judged, said Mr McClure. Pupils worked hard in class and, whenever they represented the school on trips, they were "a credit to our community".
Students – and staff – were also valued and well motivated, he concluded. There were strong pupil councils and a Youth Parliament representative, along with reward systems, where pupils earned the right to discos, trips and film shows.
Buckhaven was also a place where "pupils will be included per se – regardless of personal challenge", said the rector.
