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".James Campbell, A life in writing: James Robertson, The Guardian, 14 August 2010 The perceived English influence in many of these schools was such that in 1887 one author referred to them as "English schools".Christina Blackie, Geographical Etymology: A Dictionary of Place-names Giving Their Derivations (1887), John Murray, 1887, at page vi 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.
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
Albyn School, Aberdeen Gordonstoun, Elgin International School of Aberdeen, Aberdeen Lathallan School, Johnshaven Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen
Central & Tayside
Ardvreck School, Crieff Craigclowan Preparatory School, Perth Dollar Academy Glenalmond College, Glenalmond The High School of Dundee Morrison's Academy, Crieff Queen Victoria School, Dunblane Strathallan School, Forgandenny
Fife St Leonards School, St. Andrews
Edinburgh City Region
Belhaven Hill School, Dunbar Cargilfield Preparatory School Clifton Hall School The Edinburgh Academy The Mary Erskine School Stewart's Melville College Fettes College George Heriot's School George Watson's College Loretto School, Musselburgh Merchiston Castle School St. George's School St. Mary's Music School
Glasgow City Region 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 Wellington School, Ayr
Borders St. Mary's School, Melrose
Additional Support Needs / Complex Additional Needs Schools Donaldson's School, Linlithgow The Royal Blind School, Edinburgh
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). SchoolDay feesBoarder feesCurriculumHMCFettes College£37,050£44,100English/IBYesGordonstoun School£35,601£48,990EnglishYesMerchiston Castle School£29,250£40,320EnglishYesStrathallan School£27,360£41,829English/ScottishYesGlenalmond College£25,275 (22/23)£41,145 (22/23)EnglishYesLoretto School£25,155 (22/23)£36,945 (22/23)EnglishYesLathallan School£23,304£31,950ScottishNoSt Leonards School, St Andrews£18,765£44,232IBYesSt. George's School, Edinburgh£18,324£37,575English/ScottishNoSt. Mary's School, Melrose£17,940 (22/23)£20,640 (22/23)ScottishNoMorrison's Academy, Crieff£17,575n/aScottishYesEdinburgh Academy£17,541n/aEnglish/ScottishYesThe High School of Glasgow£16,959n/aScottishYesDollar Academy£16,677£38,601ScottishYesSt Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen£16,632n/aScottishNoInternational School Aberdeen£16,535n/aIBNoGeorge Heriot's£16,440n/aScottishYesClifton Hall School, Edinburgh£16,380n/aScottishNoHutchesons' Grammar School£16,177n/aScottishYesThe High School of Dundee£16,050n/aScottishYesMary Erskine School, Edinburgh£16,041£32,190ScottishNoStewart's Melville College, EdinburghYesAlbyn School, Aberdeen£15,995n/aScottishYesGeorge Watson's College, Edinburgh£15,951n/aScottish/IBYesKelvinside Academy£15,951n/aScottishYesRobert Gordon's College, Aberdeen£20,406 (inc. VAT)n/aScottishYesWellington School, Ayr£15,645n/aScottishNoSt. Columba's, Kilmacolm£15,610 n/aScottishYesBelmont House School£15,492n/aScottishNoSt. Aloysius' College£14,976n/aScottishYesLomond School£14,925£36,200ScottishYesThe Glasgow Academy£14,850 n/aScottishYesHamilton College£13,875n/aScottishNo
Exam results
Results of English QualificationsThe 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.
School A/A* A-level (%) A/A* GCSE (%) HMC 1 George Watson's College 55.4 (No data) Yes 2 The Edinburgh Academy 46.1 40.6 Yes 3 Fettes College 45.0 68.0 Yes 4 St Leonards School 43.2 41.2 Yes 5 Merchiston Castle School 38.6 69.3 Yes 6 Loretto School 37.5 49.7 Yes 7 St George's School, Edinburgh 34.8 48.9 No 8 Glenalmond College 31.5 52.8 Yes
Results of International BaccalaureateThe 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 36.9 34 Yes 2 George Watson's College 34.0 (No data) Yes 3 St Leonards School 33.0 13.0 Yes
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. Contact information and attainment data for independent Scottish schools.