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 modeled 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, (especially for pupils from the western isles attending mainland schools) although there is more of a trend to attend as a day pupil compared to in England.[3]

There are 91 independent schools across Scotland[4] 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.[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] This figure has risen to 30 per cent in recent years.[7]

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.[8]

## List of schools

[edit]

### North

[edit]

The "Auld Hoose" of Robert Gordon's College

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

### Central & Tayside

[edit]

Playfair Building, Dollar Academy The High School of Dundee

* Ardvreck School, Crieff
* Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth
* Dollar Academy
* Fairview International School, Bridge of Allan
* Glenalmond College, Glenalmond
* The High School of Dundee
* Morrison's Academy, Crieff
* Queen Victoria School, Dunblane
* Strathallan School, Forgandenny

### Fife

[edit]

* St Leonards School, St. Andrews

### Edinburgh City Region

[edit]

Fettes College George Heriot's School

* 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

[edit]

* Al Qalam School, Paisley
* Belmont House School, Newton Mearns
* 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

[edit]

* Wellington School, Ayr

### Borders

[edit]

* St. Mary's School, Melrose

### Additional Support Needs / Complex Additional Needs Schools

[edit]

* Ardfern School, Johnstone
* Closeburn House School, Dumfries
* Common Thread Schools, Dumfries
* Corseford School, Kilbarchan
* Donaldson's School, Linlithgow
* CrossReach Erskine Campus,Erskine
* 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

[edit]

### Fees

[edit]

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,[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[10]

|
|
|
|

Fettes College[11] | £37,050  | £44,100  | English/IB  | Yes
Gordonstoun School[12] | £35,601  | £48,990  | English  | Yes
Merchiston Castle School[13] | £29,250  | £40,320  | English  | Yes
Strathallan School[14] | £27,360  | £41,829  | English/Scottish  | Yes
Glenalmond College[15] | £25,275 (22/23)  | £41,145 (22/23)  | English  | Yes
Loretto School[16] | £25,155 (22/23)  | £36,945 (22/23)  | English  | Yes
Lathallan School[17] | £23,304  | £31,950  | Scottish  | No
St Leonards School, St Andrews[18] | £18,765  | £44,232  | IB  | Yes
St. George's School, Edinburgh[19] | £18,324  | £37,575  | English/Scottish  | No
St. Mary's School, Melrose[20] | £17,940 (22/23)  | £20,640 (22/23)  | Scottish  | No
Morrison's Academy, Crieff[21] | £17,575  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Edinburgh Academy[22] | £17,541  | n/a  | English/Scottish  | Yes
The High School of Glasgow[23] | £16,959  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Dollar Academy[24] | £16,677  | £38,601  | Scottish  | Yes
St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen[25] | £16,632  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
International School Aberdeen[26] | £16,535  | n/a  | IB  | No
George Heriot's[27] | £16,440  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Clifton Hall School, Edinburgh[28] | £16,380  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
Hutchesons' Grammar School[29] | £16,177  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
The High School of Dundee[30] | £16,050  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Mary Erskine School, Edinburgh[31] | £16,041  | £32,190  | Scottish  | No
Stewart's Melville College, Edinburgh  | Yes
Albyn School, Aberdeen[32] | £15,995  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
George Watson's College, Edinburgh[33] | £15,951  | n/a  | Scottish/IB  | Yes
Kelvinside Academy[34] | £15,951  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen[35] | £15,845  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Wellington School, Ayr[36] | £15,645  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
St. Columba's, Kilmacolm[37] | £15,610  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Belmont House School[38] | £15,492  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
St. Aloysius' College[39] | £14,976  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Lomond School[40] | £14,925  | £36,200  | Scottish  | Yes
The Glasgow Academy[41] | £14,850  | n/a  | Scottish  | Yes
Hamilton College[42] | £13,875  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
Edinburgh Steiner School[43] | £11,208 (22/23)  | n/a  | Scottish  | No
Drumduan School[44] | £10,347  | n/a  | Scottish  | No

### 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.[45] 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.[46][47]

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

|
|
|
|

1  | George Watson's College | 55.4  | (No data)  | Yes
2  | The Edinburgh Academy[48] | 46.1  | 40.6  | Yes
3  | Fettes College[49] | 45.0  | 68.0  | Yes
4  | St Leonards School[50] | 43.2  | 41.2  | Yes
5  | Merchiston Castle School[51] | 38.6  | 69.3  | Yes
6  | Loretto School[52] | 37.5  | 49.7  | Yes
7  | St George's School, Edinburgh[53] | 34.8  | 48.9  | No
8  | Glenalmond College[54] | 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[55] | 36.9  | 34  | Yes
2  | George Watson's College[56] | 34.0  | (No data)  | Yes
3  | St Leonards School[57] | 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
* Education Scotland

## 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 Facts & Figures". Scottish Council of Independent Schools. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
6. ^ Scott, Kirsty (22 September 2009). "Parents launch campaign to promote local schools in Edinburgh". The Guardian.
7. ^ "Scotland's private schools eye international expansion as market booms". The Scotsman. 7 June 2018.
8. ^ Johnson, Simon (27 May 2016). "Poor Scots 'squeezed out of university by SNP cap on places'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
9. ^ "HMC Independent Schools in Scotland". Hmc.org.uk. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
10. ^ "HMC: Schools Directory". Retrieved 2 December 2022.
11. ^ "Admissions". www.fettes.com.
12. ^ "Gordonstoun School: Fees". Gordonstoun.org.uk.
13. ^ "Merchiston Castle School: Fees". Merchiston.co.uk.
14. ^ "Strathallan School: Fees". Strathallan.co.uk.
15. ^ "Glenalmond College: Fees". Glenalmondcollege.co.uk.
16. ^ "Loretto School: Fees". Loretto.com.
17. ^ "Lathallan School: Fees" (PDF). Lathallan.org.uk.
18. ^ "Fees ~ 2022-23".
19. ^ "St. George's School, Edinburgh: Fees".
20. ^ "Fees and Charges". www.stmarysmelrose.org.uk.
21. ^ "Tuition Fees and Capital Levy - Session 2022-2023". Morrisonsacademy.org.
22. ^ "Edinburgh Academy: Fees". Edinburgh Academy.[dead link]
23. ^ "The High School of Glasgow - Fees".
24. ^ "Dollar Academy - School Fees".
25. ^ "St. Margaret's School for Girls Aberdeen - School Fees for Session 2022-23". www.st-margaret.aberdeen.sch.uk.
26. ^ "International School Aberdeen: Fees".
27. ^ "George Heriot's: Fees for session 2022/23". George-heriots.com.
28. ^ "Clifton Hall School: Fees". Cliftonhall.com.
29. ^ "Fees & Bursaries - Hutchesons' Grammar Private School Glasgow".
30. ^ "High School of Dundee - Fees". High School of Dundee.
31. ^ "Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools: Fees". Esms.edin.sch.uk.
32. ^ "Upper School Admissions and Fees".
33. ^ "George Watson's: Fees". Gwc.org.uk.
34. ^ "Fees". Kelvinside Academy.
35. ^ "Robert Gordon's, Aberdeen: Fees". Rgc.aberdeen.sch.uk.
36. ^ "Wellington School - Fees".
37. ^ "St Columba's, Kilmacolm Fees". St. Columba's.
38. ^ "Fees - Belmont House School". www.belmontschool.co.uk.
39. ^ "St. Aloysius - Fees". Staloysius.org.
40. ^ "Fees & Payment Terms". Lomond School.
41. ^ "School Fees". Glasgow Academy.
42. ^ "Hamilton College: Fees".
43. ^ "Fees and finance".
44. ^ "Fees & Finances".
45. ^ "The Times & The Sunday Times". The Times.
46. ^ "A-level results 2015: Independent schools results table". The Telegraph. 22 August 2015.
47. ^ "GCSE results 2015: Independent schools table". The Telegraph. 29 August 2015.
48. ^ "Edinburgh Academy: Exam Results". Archived from the original on 26 July 2015.
49. ^ "Fettes Results 2014".
50. ^ "St Leonard's: Academic Results". Archived from the original on 3 September 2015.
51. ^ "Merchiston Academic Results 2014".
52. ^ "Public examination results". www.loretto.com.
53. ^ "Examination Results - St George's School, Edinburgh". www.stge.org.uk.
54. ^ "Glenalmond College: Academic Results". Archived from the original on 11 August 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
55. ^ "Fettes: Excellent IB Results".
56. ^ "George Watson's College: Exam Results". Archived from the original on 1 August 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
57. ^ "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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