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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5. The Glasgow Academy
Completing the top five Scottish independent secondary schools for Higher results is Glasgow Academy. Located in the city's West End, it is the oldest continuously fully independent school in Glasgow, founded in 1845. It has a school roll of around 1,680 pupils split between the senior school and three prep school sites. | Google Maps
6. St Margaret’s School for Girls
St Margaret’s School for Girls came sixth in the Higher league table this year - and was also highly commended in the Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year 2026 category. The Aberdeen school is the oldest all-through girls’ school in Scotland, established in 1846 in a drawing room of a house at 1 Union Wynd. It now has a school roll of around 364 girls - in both primary and secondary education. | Google Maps
7. The Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy, whose senior school is located on Henderson Row in Scotland's Capital, was the seventh best performer in Scotland for Highers. It was founded in 1822 by Henry Cockburn and Leonard Horner to promote classical learning. It has a secondary roll of around 600 pupils. | Iconic Media
8. George Watson's College
The fifth and final Edinburgh independent school to make the top 10 for Higher results is George Watson's College. Located in the city's Merchiston area, it was established as a hospital school in 1723, before becoming a day school in 1871 and going co-educational in 1974. It has a school roll of around 2,358 primary and secondary pupils. | Google Maps