Buckhaven High School in particular were celebrating after securing record results among the fourth years.

Rector David McLure said: "We are over the moon; absolutely delighted with the results.

"Last year we had 20 per cent of S4 pupils gain five or more credit grades, putting us 11th place in Fife.

"That's gone this year to 30 per cent, when we actually thought it would be nearer 24 per cent.

"Overall credit passes increased from 497 to 532, that's with 20 less pupils.

" I don't know where that will put us on the Fife table but its the best we have done."

Some individual departments had been "outstanding" including business education and music, which saw 84 per cent of pupils gain credit passes.

In core subjects, maths credit passes increased from 19 per cent to 36 per cent and in English from 18 per cent to 24 per cent.

Praising pupils and staff, Mr McLure said: "The exam grade increase in Scotland is minimal but we have rises of 10 per cent. We have been working very hard and there are ongoing improvements in the school. Exclusions are down and attainment is up."

Kirkland High meanwhile also saw "small but significant improvements" according to rector Ronnie Ross.

"There has been an improvement on the previous two years and we are still pre-appeal, after which we would expect to go up 4-6 per cent.

"I'm quite optimistic. Looking across comparable schools in Fife, even with our small catchment, we've done pretty well. I'm quite pleased."
Exam grades in art, modern studies, home economics and business studies stood out.

At English standard grade level, 69 per cent of pupils gained general or credit passes, 24 per cent of them credit.
In intermediate 1 maths, 25 per cent gained credits.

"We are going to reintroduce Standard Grade maths, in line with what inspectors recommended. Our pupils are missing out by going the route of vocational exams," said Mr Ross.

At both schools, Higher results were somewhat muted, with even a slight dip recorded for Kirkland, but both rectors felt optimistic current S4 pupils would show promise next year.

Waid Academy reported results were generally in line with predictions with some departments doing exceptionally well.

Acting rector Iain Hughes said: "Subjects such as biology, music, art, physics and French performed well at most levels with a pleasing upturn in the results at Higher level in mathematics.

"This year has seen an increase in a number of courses for a wider range of abilities and we are very pleased with the way in which pupils have performed in these areas."