Best secondary schools in Edinburgh: A complete 2026 guide

Edinburgh has one of the strongest secondary school landscapes in the UK. The city mixes historic independents, well-funded council-run state schools and a small group of historic foundations, and competition for places at the most popular schools is intense. Catchment areas are watched closely by families, and the gap in house prices between an in-catchment and out-of-catchment address can be substantial.

This guide is for parents weighing up secondary options in Edinburgh, whether you are considering the independent sector or staying in the council-run system. Because Scotland runs a different qualifications path, we cover Nat 5, Higher and Advanced Higher up front. The goal is to give you a clear starting point, not a strict ranking.

We have based this list on schools with a long track record of strong results, positive inspection reputations and consistent demand from local families. We have mixed independent and council-run options so the list works whatever route you are considering.

We have not invented Education Scotland ratings or specific exam results. Where we describe a school's strengths we have used qualitative language based on widely reported information. You should always check the most recent inspection report and the school's own published Higher and Advanced Higher results before making a decision.

Edinburgh has a deep bench of independent schools, several of which have been operating for centuries. They mostly follow the Scottish curriculum, though a small number offer GCSEs, A-Levels or the International Baccalaureate alongside or instead of Highers. Fees vary widely, and most schools run some form of bursary or scholarship scheme.

George Heriot's is a co-educational independent in the city centre, founded in 1628 from a bequest by the goldsmith George Heriot. It runs from nursery through to S6 and is among the more recognisable historic schools in Scotland.

The school is known for a strong academic reputation and a sizeable foundation programme that supports pupils who have lost a parent. Entry is by assessment at the main entry points, with a smaller number of places available in other year groups.

Fettes College is an independent boarding and day school in Craigleith, just north of Comely Bank, set in a striking gothic building. The school offers GCSEs lower down and A-Levels alongside the IB Diploma at sixth form, it is the only school in Scotland to offer both A-Levels and the IB.

Fettes is known for a long history of university progression and a substantial international boarding community. Famous former pupils include Tony Blair.

The Edinburgh Academy is a co-educational independent in Stockbridge with a senior school covering S1 to S6. The Academy follows the Scottish curriculum.

The school is known for sport and music alongside academics, and runs a wide co-curricular programme. Entry is by assessment at the main entry points.

Loretto is Scotland's oldest boarding school, based in Musselburgh just east of Edinburgh. The school is co-educational and follows the English curriculum, with pupils sitting GCSEs and A-Levels.

Loretto is known for a strong rugby and golf tradition alongside academics, and serves both day pupils from East Lothian and boarders from across the UK and overseas.

St George's is an independent girls' school in Murrayfield, founded in 1888. It runs from nursery through to S6 and offers the Scottish curriculum.

The school is known for a long history of progressing pupils to leading UK universities, and runs an active programme of sport, music and outdoor education.

George Watson's is a large co-educational independent in Colinton Road, taking pupils from nursery through to S6. It follows the Scottish curriculum.

The school is known for a wide academic and co-curricular offer, and is one of the biggest independents in the city by pupil numbers. Entry is by assessment at the main entry points.

These are single-sex senior schools run together under the Erskine Stewart's Melville foundation, with a combined sixth form and joint extracurriculars. The two schools are merging into a single co-educational school, Erskine Stewart Melville (rebranded without the apostrophe-s for the merged entity), from the 2026-27 academic year.

They follow the Scottish curriculum and form one of the largest independent groupings in the city. The merger has been widely covered in the local press.

Scotland does not have grammar schools in the English sense. The state sector is non-selective and is run by local councils, with admission based on catchment. A few historic schools carry the word "grammar" in their name for reasons of tradition, but they operate as either independent schools or non-selective council secondaries.

If you are coming from England and were planning to sit an 11+ test for a selective state place, the equivalent route in Edinburgh is either the independent assessment process or a placing request to a popular catchment school. Both are covered later in this guide.

Edinburgh's state sector is well regarded, and several council-run secondaries regularly post Higher and Advanced Higher results that compare favourably with the independents. Schools are run by the City of Edinburgh Council, with catchment areas defined by your home address. There is no academic selection in the state system.

James Gillespie's is a co-educational state secondary in Marchmont, serving a central catchment that includes the Meadows and Bruntsfield. It is one of the best-known state schools in the city.

The school is known for a strong academic reputation and a notable music tradition. It was the model for Muriel Spark's Marcia Blaine School in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Boroughmuir is a co-educational state secondary that moved into a new building near Fountainbridge in 2018. It serves a catchment covering much of central south Edinburgh.

The school is known for consistently strong Higher results and a popular sixth year. Demand from out-of-catchment families is high, and placing requests are competitive.

The Royal High is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, with a history traced back to the 12th century. It is now a co-educational state secondary based in Barnton in the north-west of the city.

The school is known for a strong academic record and active rugby and music programmes. The catchment covers a substantial area in the north-west of Edinburgh.

Trinity Academy is a co-educational state secondary in the north of the city, serving Trinity, Newhaven and the wider north Leith area. It runs the full Scottish curriculum through to S6.

The school is known for a steady record of Higher results and a broad co-curricular programme. It is well established and popular with local families.

Currie Community is a co-educational state secondary in the south-west of the city, serving Currie and Juniper Green (Balerno has its own catchment school, Balerno Community High). It is the main catchment school for families in those communities.

The school is known for strong community links and a wide subject offer at Nat 5, Higher and Advanced Higher.

Liberton is a co-educational state secondary in the south of the city, serving a substantial catchment in Liberton and the surrounding area. It runs the full Scottish curriculum through to S6.

The school is known for a wide subject offer and supportive pastoral structures, and is a long-standing fixture of the south Edinburgh school landscape.

League tables only tell you so much. The right school for one child can be the wrong school for another, and the things that matter most are often invisible until you visit in person. Talk to current parents where you can, attend open days and try to get a sense of how staff talk about pupils when they think nobody is listening.

Think about practical factors too. A long commute eats into homework time, sleep and family life. A school that reliably offers your child's specific Higher and Advanced Higher choices in S5 and S6 may matter more than the school's overall reputation. And pastoral fit, especially around the move from primary, is often the single biggest predictor of how a child settles in.

Scotland does not use GCSEs or A-Levels. Students work through National 5 qualifications, usually sat in S4 around age 15 or 16, followed by Highers in S5 and Advanced Highers in S6. Highers are the main currency for Scottish university entry, with most universities asking for four or five at specified grades.

For council-run schools, your home address sets the catchment and pupils living within the catchment are guaranteed a place. Out-of-catchment families submit a placing request, which is not guaranteed and is often turned down at the most popular schools. Catchment boundaries are published by the City of Edinburgh Council and occasionally change.

For independent schools, assessments are run by each school individually, typically in English and Maths, plus an interview. Most schools have a fixed application window in the autumn before the August start, so plan well in advance. Bursaries are available at most of the main independents but vary widely in scale.