List of independent schools in Scotland

The following is a partial list of currently operating independent 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 102 independent schools across Scotland of which 72 are members of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS). According to the SCIS, its members educate around 29–30,000 pupils in Scotland representing around 4.1% 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.

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

*Albyn School, City of Aberdeen
*Gordonstoun, Elgin, Moray
* International School of Aberdeen, Milltimber, Aberdeenshire
*Lathallan School, Johnshaven, Kincardineshire
*Drumduan School, Forres
* Robert Gordon's College, City of Aberdeen
* St Margaret's School for Girls, City of Aberdeen

Central

* Ardvreck School, Crieff
*Balnacraig School, Perth
*Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar
*Cedars School of Excellence, Greenock (Pentecostal Christian school)
*The Compass School, Haddington, East Lothian
*Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth
*The Craighalbert Centre, Cumbernauld
*Dollar Academy
*Donaldson's College
*Fairview International School, Bridge of Allan
*Falkland House School, Falkland, Fife
*Glenalmond College, Glenalmond
*Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton, Renfrewshire
*Hamilton College
* The High School of Dundee
*Hillside School, Aberdour
*Kibble Education & Care Centre, Paisley
* Kilgraston School, Bridge of Earn
*Lomond School, Helensburgh
*Loretto School, Musselburgh
*Moore House School, Bathgate
*Morrison's Academy, Crieff
*The New School, Dunkeld
*New Struan School, Alloa
*Oakwood School, Laurieston, Falkirk
*Ochil Tower School, Auchterarder
*Osborne House School, Dysart
*Queen Victoria School, Dunblane
* St. Columba's School, Kilmacolm
*St Leonards School, St. Andrews
*Starley Hall School, Burntisland
*Strathallan School, Forgandenny
*Sycamore School, Dunfermline

Edinburgh

* Cargilfield Preparatory School
* Clifton Hall School
*The Edinburgh Academy
*Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools
**The Mary Erskine School
**Erskine Stewart's Melville Junior School
**Stewart's Melville College
*Fettes College
*George Heriot's School
*George Watson's College
*Mannafields Christian School
*Merchiston Castle School
*The Royal Blind School
*Edinburgh Steiner School
* St. George's School for Girls
* St. Mary's Music School

Glasgow

* Belmont House School, Newton Mearns
* Fernhill School, Rutherglen
* Hutchesons' Grammar School, Pollokshields
* Craigholme School, Pollokshields
* Kelvinside Academy, Kelvinside
* The Glasgow Academy, Kelvinbridge
* The High School of Glasgow, Anniesland
* St. Aloysius' College Garnethill

South

* Daldorch House School (Autism), Catrine
* St. Mary's School, Melrose
* Wellington School, Ayr

Figures

Fees

The schools are ranked here by day school pupil fees for 2022/23 and boarding fees are given where applicable. In cases where the 2022/23 fees are not yet available, this is indicated next to the figures. For 2022/23, the mean average day fee was £16,530 (median average was £14,968) and the average boarding fee was £33,033. 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 websit
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.

{{Scottish education

Independent schools
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