Scotland’s highest-achieving primary and secondary schools have been revealed in the 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 - with nine of the best awarded accolades.
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 nine Scottish secondary schools singled out by the report’s authors.
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5. Jordanhill School
Jordanhill School has been named Scottish State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence. Regularly appearing at the top of league tables when it comes to exam results, the school is uniquely funded directly by the Scottish Govenment, rather than through the local authority. Established in 1920 it has a current school roll of around 1050 pupils (around 460 in the primary section and around 590 in the secondary section). | Google Maps
6. The High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow has been 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
7. St Margaret’s School for Girls
St Margaret’s School for Girls was highly commended in the Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year 2026. 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
8. George Heriot’s
Edinburgh's George Heriot’s School is the Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence when it comes to Higher results. 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