From a rich academic heritage to a picturesque and charming place to study, surrounded by mountains and castles and offering abundant outdoor pursuits — Scottish independent schools promise prospective students an educational experience like no other.
If you are the parent of a soon-to-be schoolchild, or are considering sending your child to a new environment, we’ve curated a list of independent schools in Scotland that offer a comprehensive curriculum to support your child’s development.
| School | Type | Founded | Best Features Overview |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Heriot’s School | Co-ed (day) | 1628 | Scotland's oldest independent; UNICEF gold award |
| Fettes College | Co-ed (day/boarding) | 1870 | 90+ activities including Artist-in-Residence |
| Merchiston Castle School | Boys (day/boarding) | 1835 | #1 UK Golf/Tennis academies, non-selective |
| St George’s School | Girls (day/boarding) | 1888 | Scholarships in arts/music |
| George Watson’s College | Co-ed (day) | 1738 | 52-acre campus for extracurriculars |
| The Glasgow Academy | Co-ed (day) | 1845 | £26M facilities for sports like rowing/climbing |
| The High School of Glasgow | Co-ed (day) | 1124 | Oldest in Scotland; strong outdoor learning in Bearsden |
| St Aloysius’ College | Co-ed (Catholic) | 1850 | Jesuit values; Lourdes outreach |
| St Leonards School | Co-ed (day/boarding) | 1877 | IB-focused schoolin Scotland; Scottish Independent Secondary of Year 2026 |
| St Margaret’s School for Girls | Girls (day) | 1846 | Oldest all-through girls' school; debating/Model UN excellence |
💡 Understanding Private Education in Scotland
Private education in Scotland is becoming increasingly common and popular among parents, serving students from primary to secondary levels. Whether it's co-educational, single-sex, day, or boarding schools, parents and students have a wide selection to choose from.
🏫The Landscape of Scottish Independent Schools
These two terms (private and independent schools) are often used interchangeably, but independent schools are more commonly used in Scotland.
Public school
- Funding: State-owned schools (Scottish government), where it's free to attend
- Curriculum: Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) National 5s, Highers; Curriculum for Excellence
- Class sizes: Bigger
- Accessibility: Open to general students
Private/independent school
- Funding: Funded primarily through tuition fees, donations, or investment
- Curriculum: SQA, GCSE, and International Baccalaureate offerings
- Class sizes: Smaller
- Assessibility: Mostly selective, students have to take assessments and undergo interviews
📖 Curriculum and Examination Systems
The dominant curriculum and examination system of Scotland 1 is the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which covers these three levels:
National 4/5
- S3-S4 (ages 14-16)
- Grading is A-D
- Internal assessment for National 4
- Exam-based for National 5
Higher
- S5 (ages 16-17)
- Grading is A-D
- Exam-based plus coursework
- Primary qualification for university entry in Scotland
Advanced Higher
- S6 (ages 17-18)
- Grading is A-D
- Exam-based plus coursework
- Prepares students for more competitive universities like Oxbridge
However, many Scottish independent schools offer curriculum flexibility for more globalised pathways, such as:
Commonly offered by examination boards in England, targeting students aged 14-16, subject-based, and more exam-oriented.
Usually taken by students aged 16-18, where they study three to four subjects in-depth for around 2 years as a qualification for their undergraduate degree applications in the UK
Internationally recognised qualification taken by students aged 16-18 who want a holistic and competitive subject combination where the curriculum covers Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service)
Now, let's look at some of the best independent schools in Scotland.
⭐ George Heriot’s School
Popularly known as Edinburgh's oldest independent school, George Heriot's School is a co-educational day school with a high academic reputation and accolades.
Every year, the school tops the country's SQA results for S4 National 5 Exams, S5 Higher Exam Results, and S6 Advanced Higher Exam Results. It is also known for its broad curricular offerings, sports, expressive arts, Combined Cadet Force (CCF) participation, and pipe band lessons.
Exam Results:
S4 National 5: 98.7% A-C passes,
S5 High Exam: 97% A-C passes
S6 Advanced High Exam: 91.7% A-C passes
Fees:
£11,620–£20,911 per annum (Nursery to Senior School)
Check out the best private schools in Surrey.
⭐Fettes College
Next, let's look at Fettes College, a co-educational boarding and day school known as the 'Eton of the North'. Located in a spacious and lush 100 acres of secure green campus with mountain views, the school is a wonderful place for students to live, learn, and grow, regardless of their academic and non-academic pursuits.
It is also one of the few independent schools in Scotland that follows the English curriculum completely, offering the GCSE, the A-Level, and the IB pathways for students.
Exam Results:
GCSE: 10% achieving straight 9s (equivalent to A*)
Combined A-Level and IB: 81% achieving A*-B/ 7-5
Term Fees:
£5,000 (5-7 years)
Day £8,500; Boarding £12,500 (7-13 years)
Day £15,150; Boarding £18,000 (13-18 years)
Read more on the best independent schools in Manchester.
⭐ Merchiston Castle School
Moving on, Merchiston Castle School is an all-boys boarding and day school with strong sporting traditions.
The school is ranked number one in Scotland for golf and second in the entire UK, where students can choose from a wide selection of 20 sports. Academically, the school offers its curriculum primarily through GCSEs and A Levels, where several subjects are given the option for Scottish qualifications.
Exam Results:
GCSE: 55% awarded Grade 7-9
A-Level: 64% awarded at A*- B.
Term Fees:
Day £6,000; Flexi Boarding £7,735 (Junior School)
Day £8,000, Boarding £16,902 (Senior School)
⭐ St George’s School
Located in Edinburgh, St George's School is one of the leading independent girls’ schools in Scotland for students aged 3 to 18.
The school offers a diverse and dynamic academic department alongside solid co-curricular offerings to develop every girl's potential and interests without limitations.
Exam Results:
Higher and Advanced Higher: 78% are at A/B
100% of all Higher results in Latin, Spanish, and Mandarin at grade A
78% score A for Higher Mathematics
Fees:
Day: £4,843.60- £5,648.40 (Junior School)
Day: £6,252- £7,057.20 (Middle School)
Day: £7,941.60 (Upper School)
Full Boarding: £14,595.60- £16,285.20
Check out the best private schools in Birmingham.
⭐ George Watson’s College
George Watson’s College is the largest co-educational independent school in Scotland, catering to approximately 2300 students.
The school is known for its exceptional exam performance and strong pastoral care, even offering school buses (chargeable) to different locations such as Buckstone Terrace, Livingston, Lasswade, North Berwick and a few more.
Exam Results:
National 5: 78.9% achieved As
Higher 5: 65.1% achieved As
Advanced Higher: 91.2% achieved A-C
Fees:
£12,348 - £19,991 (Preschool to Senior School)
⭐The Glasgow Academy
Now, let's switch gears to the largest city of Scotland, Glasgow. Founded in 1845, The Glasgow Academy is one of the top independent co-educational schools in the region.
The school has three sites, which cater to nursery to senior school students, as well as modern facilities like The Saunders Centre to cultivate students' interests in science and technology.
Exam Results:
National 5: 98% A-C passes
Higher: 75.7% score A grades
Advanced: 54.4% score A grades
Annual Fees:
£12,495 - £15,992 (Prep to Senior School)
Discover the top private schools in Oxfordshire.
⭐ The High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is a prestigious co-educational day school with a rich history beginning as a choir school of Glasgow Cathedral around 1124 — making it the oldest independent school in Scotland.
Recently, it was named Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year in 2026 by The Times, for its strong academics and extensive co-curricular offerings (more than 100 options). The school has two locations: Bearsden (Kindergarten and Junior School), and Glasgow (Senior School).
Exam Results:
National 5: 98.1% score A-C
Higher: 96% score A-C
Advanced Higher: 93.2% score A-C
Term Fees:
£5,416- £7,361 (Junior to Senior School)
⭐ St Aloysius’ College
St Aloysius’ College is not just a premier independent school in Glasgow, but it is also Scotland's only Catholic Jesuit school, located next to St Aloysius Church.
Founded in 1859, it caters to students aged 3 to 18 years, both male and female, at kindergarten, junior school, and senior school levels.
The school stands out for its application of Jesuit values, centred on strong academic, spiritual, and moral beliefs, to help each pupil achieve their goals and fulfil their potential in every field.
Notably, the school showed excellent results in subjects such as French, Italian, Art & Design, Geography, and Music.
Exam Results:
National 5: 37% score straight A
Higher: 38% score straight A
Advanced Higher: 91% pass rate, with 41% at Grade A
Term Fees:
£15,262.80 - £19,827.60 (Primary to Senior)
Explore the best independent schools in Kent.
⭐ St Leonards School
Located at St. Andrews, St Leonards School is a co-educational day and boarding school, catering to pupils from Kindergarten to Year 13. From its foundation in 1877, the school has constantly focused on bringing a progressive educational pathway to its students.
Since 2020, the school has introduced the four entire International Baccalaureate programs from Year 1 onwards, and has won many accolades, such as the Scottish Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024 by The Sunday Times. 3
Exam Results:
GCSE: 55% score Grade 7-9
Higher: 86% score Grade 5-7
IB: Average score of 36 points out of a possible 45
Term Fees:
£3,905- £7,590 (Kindergarten to Year 13)
⭐ St Margaret’s School for Girls
Finally, we have St Margaret's School for Girls, Aberdeen. Named after St Margaret of Scotland, a medieval queen, it is the oldest all-girls independent school in Scotland and is open to pupils from 3 to 18 of all denominations and faiths.
It is one of the few all-girls school who retains the boarding tradition, making the school popular among local families and outside the UK.
Exam Results:
National 5: 99.3% score A-C
Higher: 96.7% score A-C
Advanced Higher: 95.3% score A-C
Annual Fees:
£13,197-£21,687 (Junior to Senior)
Review the top private schools in Hertfordshire.
🤔 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Private School
Here are some guidelines to help you decide on the best private school for your child.
🎓 Academic Performance and Curriculum
Academic strength and a broad curriculum are undeniably the key reasons why families choose a particular independent school for their child.
Above all, you should know what your child's ultimate learning styles or future goals are. From there, you can match your child's preferences and strengths according to what the schools deliver in terms of curriculum.
Is your child more inclined towards subject-based learning or a holistic curriculum?
Is your child planning to study locally in Scotland or overseas, like the U.S?
For example, your child would be more suited to take the IB qualifications if he or she wants to study outside Scotland. So you can decide between the independent schools that offer this qualification instead of the SQA qualification, such as:
🏛️ Extracurricular Activities and Facilities
If your child is active in sports and co-curricular activities, you can also weigh in on this option when selecting an independent school. This matters as some schools offer better elite sports programmes, scholarships, and facilities for selected extracurricular activities. Here's an example to review the schools according to their non-academic offerings in different areas :
| Category | Key Schools and Highlights |
|---|---|
| Sport | Merchiston Castle: Renowned for rugby and golf |
| Fettes College, George Watson’s, High School of Glasgow: Elite multi-sport programmes with professional coaching | |
| St Leonards: Strong lacrosse and international sport | |
| Arts and Music | Heriot’s, St George’s, Glasgow Academy: Strong music, drama, creative arts departments |
| Common facilities: Large concert halls, theatre spaces, recording studios |
🛏️ Location and Boarding Options
The location of a school plays a pivotal role in shaping a pupil's educational experience, in the classroom and beyond the classroom.
✔If you want a balance of learning and close family life, choose day schools
✔If you want your child to have a more immersive and self-independent experience, choose schools with boarding options
Ultimately, it boils down to the convenience of commuting from your home to the school, and if you're living outside major cities in Scotland.
Day schools
- George Heriot’s School (Edinburgh)
- George Watson’s College (Edinburgh)
- St George’s School (Edinburgh)
- The Glasgow Academy (Glasgow)
- The High School of Glasgow (Glasgow)
- St Aloysius’ College (Glasgow)
Day & Boarding schools
- Fettes College (Edinburgh)
- Merchiston Castle School (Edinburgh)
- St Leonards School (St Andrews)
- St Margaret’s School for Girls (Aberdeen)
💰Fees and Financial Assistance
Of course, the school fees are also part of the consideration when you choose to enrol in an independent school. The fee structure may vary depending on whether it is a day or boarding school, and also the age groups of pupils. It's good to have an idea of the range of school fees so that you'll know the amount to prepare ahead, whether it's per term or annually.
Additionally, you should also look into various financial assistance prospects, such as bursaries or scholarships available, like the following examples:
| School | Key Offerings |
|---|---|
| George Heriot’s | Generous means-tested bursaries (charitable foundation) |
| Fettes, Merchiston, St Leonards, Watson’s | Academic, music, and sport scholarships |
👔 Navigating the Admissions Process
Finally, let's talk about the admission journey — it can be quite competitive as most independent schools are selective.
⏱️Application Timelines and Requirements
Different schools would have different application deadlines, but we usually recommend that parents apply 1 -2 years in advance, especially if you want to apply to a boarding school. It's important to review the admission details on the official website and look at what you can prepare in advance (like a checklist)
✏️ Entrance Examinations and Interviews
Again, every independent school may have different assessment methods, but they usually combine a series of entrance exams and interviews. Most schools would test students on English and Maths, coupled with verbal and non-verbal reasoning, according to their designated age groups.
Additionally, the interviews usually centre around the student's genuine thoughts on his or her learning direction and needs, and how the chosen school is the right fit for them, academically and non-academically.
If you need guidance on several subjects or tips for an interview, feel free to connect with an experienced tutor on Superprof to ace your entrance tests and interview sessions.
An experienced tutor can guide you in terms of subject understanding and also help you to answer the interview questions confidently when applying to the best private schools in the UK.
🏫Open Days and School Visits
Even though there are a lot of things you can discover through research on the school's website or the Scottish Council of Independent Schools, nothing beats a face-to-face school visit to discern whether the schools that you are considering are the best options for your child. 4
Here are some pointers to look for when you're planning to visit the schools' open days or by appointment:
You can also use this time to ask the staff questions or even talk to other parents to gather relevant testimonials and reviews about the school before making the final decision.
We hope this article has offered you some insights into the best independent schools in Scotland. All the best with your applications!
References
- SQA. (n.d.). SQA. https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/96425.html
- Golding, J. (2020, September 4). School spotlight: The Glasgow Academy - Independent Education Today. Independent Education Today. https://www.ie-today.co.uk/school-life/school-spotlight-the-glasgow-academy/
- Moody-Stuart, C. (2024, November 13). 18 of the best Scottish private schools. Https://Www.independentschoolparent.com; Independent School Parent. https://www.independentschoolparent.com/school/senior-sixth-form/scotlands-independent-schools/
- Home » SCIS. (n.d.). https://www.scis.org.uk/
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
