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".[1] The perceived English influence in many of these schools was such that in 1887 one author referred to them as "English schools".[2] 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.[3]

There are 102 independent schools across Scotland[4] 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.[5] The figure is significantly higher in Edinburgh, with around 1 in 4 pupils educated at an independent school, the highest proportion in the UK.[6]

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.[7]

## Contents

* 1 List of schools
* 1.1 North
* 1.2 Central
* 1.3 Edinburgh
* 1.4 Glasgow
* 1.5 South
* 2 Figures
* 2.1 Fees
* 2.2 Exam results
* 3 See also
* 4 References
* 5 External links

## List of schools[edit]

### North[edit]

* 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

The "Auld Hoose" of Robert Gordon's College

|

### Central[edit]

* 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

Playfair Building, Dollar Academy

The High School of Dundee

|
|

### Edinburgh[edit]

Fettes College

George Heriot's School

* Basil Paterson School & Tutorial College
* Cargilfield Preparatory School
* Clifton Hall School
* Dunedin School
* The Edinburgh Academy
* Edinburgh Montessori Arts School
* 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
* Harmeny School
* Mannafields Christian School
* Merchiston Castle School
* Regius Christian School
* The Royal Blind School
* Edinburgh Steiner School
* St. George's School for Girls
* St. Mary's Music School

### Glasgow[edit]

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

### South[edit]

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

## Figures[edit]

### Fees[edit]

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 (median average was £12,558) and the average boarding fee was £29,498.[8] Membership of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) is indicated,[9] 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).

| School  | Day fees  | Boarder fees  | Curriculum  | HMC

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Fettes College[10] | £28,200  | £34,800  | English/IB  | Yes
2  | Gordonstoun School[11] | £25,788  | £34,500  | English  | Yes
3  | Merchiston Castle School[12] | £24,210  | £32,910  | English  | Yes
4  | Loretto School[13] | £23,325  | £34,260  | English  | Yes
5  | Glenalmond College[14] | £22,503  | £34,506  | English  | Yes
6  | Strathallan School[15] | £21,747  | £32,049  | English  | Yes
7  | Lathallan School[16] | £18,201  | £24,951  | Scottish  | No
8  | St. Mary's School, Melrose[17] | £17,169  | £19,569  | Scottish  | ?
9  | Kilgraston School[18] | £16,965  | £28,980  | Scottish  | No
10  | Edinburgh Academy[19] | £13,752  | n/a  | English/Scottish  | Yes
11  | St Leonards School, St Andrews[20] | £13,596  | £33,162  | IB  | Yes
12  | International School Aberdeen[21] | £13,430  | n/a  | IB  | No
13  | St. George's School, Edinburgh[22] | £13,410  | £28,035  | English/Scottish  | No
14  | Albyn School, Aberdeen[23] | £13,175  | £28,935  | Scottish  | No
15  | Hutchesons' Grammar School, Pollokshields[24] | £13,149  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
16  | Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen[25] | £12,710  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
17  | Morrison's Academy, Crieff[26] | £12,669  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
18  | Belmont House School[27] | £12,606  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
19  | St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen[28] | £12,600  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
20  | Dollar Academy[29] | £12,591  | £29,133  | Scottish  | Yes
21  | The High School of Dundee[30] | £12,498  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
22  | Wellington School, Ayr[31] | £12,450  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
23  | The High School of Glasgow[32] | £12,336  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
24  | Kelvinside Academy[33] | £12,240  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
25  | George Heriot's[34] | £12,039  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
26  | The Glasgow Academy[35] | £12,023  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
27  | George Watson's College, Edinburgh[36] | £11,901  | n/a  | Scottish/IB  | Yes
28  | St. Aloysius' College[37] | £11,871  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
29  | Clifton Hall School, Edinburgh[38] | £11,805  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
30  | St. Columba's, Kilmacolm[39] | £11,630  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
31  | Lomond School[40] | £11,550  | £26,730  | Scottish  | Yes
32  | Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh[41] | £11,298  | £22,668  | Scottish  | No
Stewart's Melville College, Edinburgh  | Yes
34  | Hamilton College[42] | £10,140  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
35  | Drumduan School[43] | £9,855  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
36  | Edinburgh Steiner School[44] | £8,949  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
37  | Cedars School of Excellence, Greenock

[45]

| £7,950  | n/a  | Scottish  | ?

### Exam results[edit]

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.[46] 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.

| School  | A/B Higher (%)  | 1/A Standard Grade/Int 2 (%)

|
|
|

1  | George Heriot's School | 79.7  | 71.3
2  | St George's School, Edinburgh | 77.9  | 62.6
3  | Dollar Academy | 76.5  | 66.2
4  | Hutchesons' Grammar School | 76.1  | 73.7
5  | St Columba's School | 76.1  | 72.2
6  | The High School of Glasgow | 75.7  | 80.4
7  | Albyn School | 73.9  | 58.9
8  | The Glasgow Academy | 73.6  | 66.2
9  | Stewart's Melville College | 73.3  | 68.9
10  | The Mary Erskine School | 73.1  | 75.2
11  | High School of Dundee | 72.6  | 73.3
12  | St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen  | 71.7  | 62.8
13  | St. Aloysius' College | 71.2  | 65.5
14  | George Watson's College | 70.9  | 68.1
15  | Morrison's Academy | 68.6  | 66.5
16  | Wellington School | 68.6  | 61.1
17  | Robert Gordon's College | 68  | 65.9
18  | Kilgraston School | 67.7  | 47.5
19  | Lomond School | 65.9  | 51.5
20  | Kelvinside Academy | 65  | 55
21  | Hamilton College | 64.5  | 54.1
22  | Fernhill School | 61.5  | 77.9
23  | The Edinburgh Rudolf Steiner School  | 60.5  | 40
24  | Belmont House School | 46.2  | 23.1
25  | Queen Victoria School | 37.1  | 41.4

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.[47][48]

| School  | A/A* A-level (%)  | A/A* GCSE (%)  | HMC

|
|
|
|

1  | George Watson's College | 55.4  | (No data)  | Yes
2  | The Edinburgh Academy[49] | 46.1  | 40.6  | Yes
3  | Fettes College[50] | 45.0  | 68.0  | Yes
4  | St Leonards School[51] | 43.2  | 41.2  | Yes
5  | Merchiston Castle School[52] | 38.6  | 69.3  | Yes
6  | Loretto School[53] | 37.5  | 49.7  | Yes
7  | St George's School, Edinburgh[54] | 34.8  | 48.9  | No
8  | Glenalmond College[55] | 31.5  | 52.8  | Yes

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.

| School  | Average Score (/45)  | >40 points (%)  | HMC

|
|
|
|

1  | Fettes College[56] | 36.9  | 34  | Yes
2  | George Watson's College[57] | 34.0  | (No data)  | Yes
3  | St Leonards School[58] | 33.0  | 13.0  | Yes

## See also[edit]

* List of schools in Scotland
* Education in Scotland
* List of UK Independent Schools
* List of the oldest schools in the United Kingdom
* Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education

## References[edit]

1. ^ James Campbell, A life in writing: James Robertson, The Guardian, 14 August 2010 [1]
2. ^ Christina Blackie, Geographical Etymology: A Dictionary of Place-names Giving Their Derivations (1887), John Murray, 1887, at page vi [2]
3. ^ "Private Schools in Scotland | Educators.co.uk". www.educators.co.uk. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
4. ^ "Schools - gov.scot". www.gov.scot.
5. ^ "SCIS Pupil Numbers". Archived from the original on 28 February 2014.
6. ^ Scott, Kirsty (22 September 2009). "Parents launch campaign to promote local schools in Edinburgh". The Guardian.
7. ^ Johnson, Simon (27 May 2016). "Poor Scots 'squeezed out of university by SNP cap on places'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
8. ^ Denholm, Andrew. "Revealed: The rising cost of a Scottish private school education". The Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
9. ^ "HMC Independent Schools in Scotland". Hmc.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
10. ^ "Admissions". www.fettes.com.
11. ^ "Gordonstoun School: Fees". Gordonstoun.org.uk.
12. ^ "Merchiston Castle School: Fees". Merchiston.co.uk.
13. ^ "Loretto School: Fees". Loretto.com.
14. ^ "Glenalmond College: Fees". Glenalmondcollege.co.uk.
15. ^ "Strathallan School: Fees". Strathallan.co.uk.
16. ^ "Lathallan School: Fees" (PDF). Lathallan.org.uk.
17. ^ "Fees and Charges". www.stmarysmelrose.org.uk.
18. ^ "Kilgraston: School Fees". www.kilgraston.com.
19. ^ "Edinburgh Academy: Fees". Edinburgh Academy. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015.
20. ^ "Fees ~ 2017-18" (PDF).
21. ^ "International School Aberdeen: Fees".
22. ^ "St. George's School, Edinburgh: Fees".
23. ^ "Admissions".
24. ^ "Fees & Bursaries - Hutchesons' Grammar Private School Glasgow".
25. ^ "Robert Gordon's, Aberdeen: Fees". Rgc.aberdeen.sch.uk.
26. ^ "Morrison's Academy: Fees". Morrisonsacademy.org.
27. ^ "Fees - Belmont House School". www.belmontschool.co.uk.
28. ^ "St. Margaret's School for Girls Aberdeen :: Admissions". www.st-margaret.aberdeen.sch.uk.
29. ^ "Dollar Academy, Fees".
30. ^ "High School of Dundee". High School of Dundee.
31. ^ "Wellington School Ayr | Private Independent School Ayrshire | Fees & Bursaries".
32. ^ "The High School of Glasgow: Fees".
33. ^ "Fees". Kelvinside Academy.
34. ^ "George Heriot's: Fees". George-heriots.com.
35. ^ "Fees". Glasgow Academy.
36. ^ "George Watson's: Fees". Gwc.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
37. ^ "St. Aloysius': Fees". Staloysius.org.
38. ^ "Clifton Hall School: Fees". Cliftonhall.org.uk.
39. ^ "St Columba's, Kilmacolm Fees". St. Columba's.
40. ^ "Fees". Lomond School.
41. ^ "Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools: Fees". Esms.edin.sch.uk.
42. ^ "Hamilton College: Fees". Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
43. ^ "Fees and finance".
44. ^ "Fees and finance".
45. ^ https://cedars.inverclyde.sch.uk/fees-information.html. `{{cite web}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)
46. ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times". www.thetimes.co.uk.
47. ^ "A-level results 2015: Independent schools results table". The Telegraph. 22 August 2015.
48. ^ "GCSE results 2015: Independent schools table". The Telegraph. 29 August 2015.
49. ^ "Edinburgh Academy: Exam Results". Archived from the original on 26 July 2015.
50. ^ "Fettes Results 2014".
51. ^ "St Leonard's: Academic Results". Archived from the original on 3 September 2015.
52. ^ "Merchiston Academic Results 2014".
53. ^ "Public examination results". www.loretto.com.
54. ^ "Examination Results - St George's School, Edinburgh". www.stge.org.uk.
55. ^ "Glenalmond College: Academic Results". Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
56. ^ "Fettes: Excellent IB Results".
57. ^ "George Watson's College: Exam Results". Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
58. ^ "St Leonards: Academic Results". Archived from the original on 27 September 2015.

## External links[edit]

* 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.

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