List of private schools in Scotland

The following is a partial list of currently operating private schools in Scotland.

Many of the schools are perceived to be heavily influenced by the culture, practices and ethos of English independent, or "public", schools. Author James Robertson described Glenalmond College as "a Scottish boarding school modelled on the English public school system". The perceived English influence in many of these schools was such that in 1887 one author referred to them as "English schools". 43% of Scottish independent secondary schools offer boarding as an option, although there is more of a trend to attend as a day pupil compared to in England.

There are 91 independent schools across Scotland of which 71 are members of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS). According to the SCIS, its members educate around 29,000 pupils in Scotland representing around 4.2% of the school age population in Scotland. The figure is significantly higher in Edinburgh, with around 1 in 4 pupils educated at an independent school, the highest proportion in the UK. This figure has risen to 30 per cent in recent years.

Scottish students from independent schools are over-represented at the four ancient universities of Scotland. They represented 26% of the student body at the four institutions in 2014/15 with 71% in total receiving an offer of admission at one of the four ancient universities compared to only 29% of state-school entrants.

List of schools

North

Central & Tayside

Edinburgh City Region

• Basil Paterson Middle School
• Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar
• Cargilfield Preparatory School
• Clifton Hall School
• The Compass School, Haddington
• The Edinburgh Academy
• Edinburgh Montessori Arts School
• Edinburgh Steiner School
• Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools
  • Erskine Stewart's Melville Junior School
  • The Mary Erskine School
  • Stewart's Melville College
• Fettes College
• George Heriot's School
• George Watson's College
• Loretto School, Musselburgh
• Mannafields Christian School
• Merchiston Castle School
• Regius School
• St. George's School
• St. Mary's Music School

Glasgow City Region

• Al Qalam School, Paisley
• Belmont House School, Newton Mearns
• Cedars School of Excellence, Greenock
• Fernhill School, Rutherglen
• The Glasgow Academy, Kelvinbridge
• Hamilton College
• The High School of Glasgow, Anniesland
• Hutchesons' Grammar School, Pollokshields
• Kelvinside Academy, Kelvinside
• Lomond School, Helensburgh
• St. Aloysius' College Garnethill
• St. Columba's School, Kilmacolm

Ayrshire

• Wellington School, Ayr

Borders

• St. Mary's School, Melrose

Additional Support Needs / Complex Additional Needs Schools

• Ardfern School, Johnstone
• Closeburn House School, Dumfries
• Common Thread Schools, Dumfries
• Corseford School, Kilbarchan
• Donaldson's School, Linlithgow
• Dunedin School, Edinburgh
• East Park School, Maryhill
• Falkland House School, Falkland
• Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton
• Harmeny School, Balerno
• Hillside School, Aberdour
• Kibble Education & Care Centre, Paisley
• Maben House School Lochmaben
• Mirren Park School, Paisley
• Moore House Academy, Bathgate
• Moore House Academy, Butterstone, Dunkeld
• New Struan School, Alloa
• Ochil Tower School, Auchterarder
• The Royal Blind School, Edinburgh
• Scottish Centre For Children With Motor Impairments, Craighalbert Centre, Cumbernauld
• Seamab School, Rumbling Bridge
• Stanmore House School, Lanark
• Starley Hall School, Burntisland
• Troup House School, Gamrie

Figures

Fees

The schools are ranked here by day school pupil fees for 2023/24 and boarding fees are given where applicable. In cases where the 2023/24 fees are not yet available, this is indicated next to the figures. Membership of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) is indicated, as well as the curriculum followed by the school: English (i.e. GCSEs, A-levels), Scottish (i.e. Standard Grades/Intermediates, Highers, Advanced Highers), Mixed English and Scottish, or International Baccalaureate (IB).

Exam results

Scottish Exams
The following table ranks the schools by performance in the 2008 round of Scottish Qualifications Authority examinations according to the percentage of A/B grades achieved at Higher level according to The Times newspaper. The percentage of 1 grades at Standard Grade and A grades at Intermediate 2 are also provided. As indicated above, some independent schools in Scotland follow the English curriculum or offer the International Baccalaureate.

Higher and Standard Grade/Intermediate 2 Results
Here, schools following the Scottish exam curriculum are ranked according to the percentage of Highers achieved in 2009 at A/B, as recorded in The Times.

Results of English Qualifications
The below schools follow the English exam curriculum, and are ranked according to the percentage of A-levels achieved at A*/A, as recorded in The Telegraph in 2015.

Results of International Baccalaureate
The below schools offer the International Baccalaureate as a qualification, and are ranked according to the average score achieved out of a maximum 45 points.

See also

• List of schools in Scotland
• Education in Scotland
• List of UK Independent Schools
• List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom
• Education Scotland

References

External links

• The website UK Schools & Colleges Database lists currently operating state (and some independent) schools by Local Education Authority and also links to websites of individual schools where available.
• Information on Private Schools in Scotland Key information and independent ratings on private Secondary Schools across Scotland.
• Scottish Schools Online Contact information and attainment data for independent Scottish schools.