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. 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
Central
Edinburgh
Glasgow
South

Fees

The Schools below are ranked in fees.
The schools are ranked here by day school pupil fees for 2017/18 and boarding fees are given where applicable. For 2017/18, the mean average day fee was £14,574 and the average boarding fee was £29,498. Membership of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is indicated, as well as the curriculum followed by the school: English, Scottish, Mixed English and Scottish, or International Baccalaureate.
SchoolDay feesBoarder feesCurriculumHMC
1Fettes College£28,200£34,800English/IBYes
2Gordonstoun School£25,788£34,500EnglishYes
3Merchiston Castle School£24,210£32,910EnglishYes
4Loretto School£23,325£34,260EnglishYes
5Glenalmond College£22,503£34,506EnglishYes
6Strathallan School£21,747£32,049EnglishYes
7Lathallan School£18,201£24,951ScottishNo
8Kilgraston School£16,965£28,980ScottishNo
9Edinburgh Academy£13,752n/aEnglish/ScottishYes
10St Leonards School, St Andrews£13,596£33,162IBYes
11International School Aberdeen£13,430n/aIBNo
12St. George's School, Edinburgh£13,410£28,035English/ScottishNo
13Albyn School, Aberdeen£13,175£28,935ScottishNo
14Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen£12,710n/aScottishYes
15Morrison's Academy, Crieff£12,669n/aScottishYes
16Belmont House School£12,606n/aScottishNo
17St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen£12,600n/aScottishNo
18Dollar Academy£12,591£29,133ScottishYes
19Beaconhurst School, Bridge of Allan£12,525n/aScottishNo
20The High School of Dundee£12,498n/aScottishYes
21Wellington School, Ayr£12,450n/aScottishNo
22The High School of Glasgow£12,336n/aScottishYes
23Kelvinside Academy£12,240n/aScottishYes
24Craigholme School, Glasgow£12,201n/aScottishNo
25George Heriot's£12,039n/aScottishYes
26The Glasgow Academy£12,023n/aScottishYes
27George Watson's College, Edinburgh£11,901n/aScottish/IBYes
28St. Aloysius' College£11,871n/aScottishYes
29Clifton Hall School, Edinburgh£11,805n/aScottishNo
30Hutcheson's Grammar School, Glasgow£11,728n/aScottishYes
31St. Columba's, Kilmacolm£11,630n/aScottishYes
32Lomond School£11,550£26,730ScottishYes
33Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh£11,298£22,668ScottishNo
33Stewart's Melville College, Edinburgh£11,298£22,668ScottishYes
35Hamilton College£10,140n/aScottishNo
36Edinburgh Steiner School£8,949n/aScottishNo

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.
SchoolA/B Higher 1/A Standard Grade/Int 2
1George Heriot's School79.771.3
2St George's School, Edinburgh77.962.6
3Dollar Academy76.566.2
4Hutchesons' Grammar School76.173.7
5St Columba's School76.172.2
6The High School of Glasgow75.780.4
7Albyn School73.958.9
8The Glasgow Academy73.666.2
9Stewart's Melville College73.368.9
10The Mary Erskine School73.175.2
11High School of Dundee72.673.3
12St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen71.762.8
13St. Aloysius' College71.265.5
14George Watson's College70.968.1
15Morrison's Academy68.666.5
16Wellington School68.661.1
17Craigholme School68.159.1
18Robert Gordon's College6865.9
19Kilgraston School67.747.5
20Lomond School65.951.5
21Kelvinside Academy6555
22Hamilton College64.554.1
23Fernhill School61.577.9
24St Margaret's School, Edinburgh61.229.8
25The Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School60.540
26Beaconhurst School46.847.6
27Belmont House School46.223.1
28Queen Victoria School37.141.4

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.
SchoolA/A* A-level A/A* GCSE HMC
1George Watson's College55.4Yes
2The Edinburgh Academy46.140.6Yes
3Fettes College45.068.0Yes
4St Leonards School43.241.2Yes
5Merchiston Castle School38.669.3Yes
6Loretto School37.549.7Yes
7St George's School, Edinburgh34.848.9No
8Glenalmond College31.552.8Yes

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.
SchoolAverage Score >40 points HMC
1Fettes College36.934Yes
2George Watson's College34.0Yes
3St Leonards School33.013.0Yes