Scotland’s highest-achieving independent secondary schools have been revealed in the 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026.
Recognised as the definitive ranking of the UK’s top primary and secondary state and independent schools, the guide aims to be an essential resource for parents seeking the very best in education for their children.
The guide includes a fully searchable national database of more than 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode - along with an assessment of academic results on a school-by-school basis.
Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, said: “The educational landscape is testing – budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future. But there is also so much to celebrate from the dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life.
“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is uplifting to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century, and instilling a lifelong love of learning.”
The guide is available online here and will be available in print in a 28-page supplement in the newspaper on Sunday, December 7.
Here are the top 10 independent (or fee-paying) Scottish secondary schools to make the top 10 when it came to Higher exam results.
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1. St Mary's Music School
St Mary's Music School, in Edinburgh, came top in the guide when it came to Higher results. Established in 1880 and located in the city's West End, it is also the Choir School of St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral. It has a school roll of around 64 pupils across primary and secondary students. | Google Maps
2. George Heriot’s
Edinburgh's George Heriot’s School came second in the survey, and was also named the Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence (Highers). Located in a landmark building in the Scottish Capital's Lauriston Place, it has a roll of over 1,600 pupils, at both primary and secondary level. | Google Maps
3. High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow takes the final podium postion when it comes to Higher results - and was also crowned Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year in the annual Sunday Times report. It was originally founded as the choir school of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, making it the oldest school in Scotland and the 12th oldest in the UK. It has a secondary school roll of around 840 pupils. | Google Maps
4. The Mary Erskine School
The Mary Erskine School, in Edinburgh, took fourth spot for Higher exam excellence. The all-girl school was founded in 1694 and is twinned with Stewart's Melville College. It has a roll of around 670 pupils. | Google Maps