Independent School

Sending a child to an independent school, (often referred to as a private or fee paying school) is an option taken by a number of parents across Scotland. In addition to many, usually smaller schools addressing the education of children with a range of complex needs, there are several dozen larger schools offering a mainstream education. This is where Chambers Tutoring focusses the support we can offer.

Why do people choose Independent School?

The question many people ask is why choose to send my child to an independent school? There are several answers to this question which may include family ties, smaller class sizes, generally stronger academic outcomes and a wider range of resources and extra-curricular activities, (one school boasts well over 200 of these).

These schools operate free of local authority control each having its own unique ethos, and many of them have a history dating back centuries. In Scotland, most deliver the Scottish curriculum and use the Scottish exam system although there are some who offer either English GCSEs and A Levels or qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate.

The size of these schools varies from around 100 to well over 2000 pupils; some accept pupils from 3-18 years while others are preparatory schools whose pupils move on around age 12 or 13. Some of the schools have a religious backdrop to the education they provide, whilst a few are for only either boys or girls and there is also the option of boarding at many of the schools. In all there are several dozen independent schools with around 30,000 pupils.

Each of these schools also has control over their entrance criteria and can choose who they offer places too. This process will include a combination of an interview, a taster day, (and often night in the case of boarding schools), a review of reports from your child’s current school and an entrance examination. These exams vary in degrees of formality – often depending on the age group and not all  schools employ them – although where they used, they are academically competitive.

When there is this academic selection to an independent school, you will want to give your child every edge that you can. This is where we at Chambers Tutoring can help. These exams will be a new experience for your child; not only in terms of the exam itself but possibly also in terms of the content. We have over 10 years of experience in preparing children for these exams with over 80 successful clients having been offered places at various schools.

Clearly, the financial commitment of sending your child to an independent school is considerable however, many of the schools offer at least partial assistance with fees by way of bursaries and there are a limited number of scholarships available as well.

Further details on each of the independent schools can be found on their websites. Most of Scotland’s independent schools are listed on the Scottish Council of Independent Schools website by clicking here

School Name	Town	Age of Pupils	Number of Pupils	Gender	Test	Notes
Albyn School	Aberdeen	2 – 18	700	coed	test
Ardvreck School	Crieff	3 – 13	100	coed
Belhaven Hill	Dunbar	7 – 13	101	coed
Belmont House School	Newton Mearns	3 – 17	300	coed
Cargilfield School	Edinburgh	3 – 13	296	coed		Mainly English system
Cedars School of Excellence	Greenock	5 – 18	109	coed		Christian School
Clifton Hall	Newbridge, Edinburgh	3 – 18	410	coed		Mixed ability
The Compass School	Haddington	4 – 12	128	coed
Craigclowan	Perth	3 – 13	236	coed
Dollar Academy	Dollar	5 – 18	1295	coed	test
Edinburgh Academy	Edinburgh	2 – 18	1136	coed	test
Edinburgh Steiner School	Edinburgh	3 – 18	290	coed
E.S.M.S – Junior School	Edinburgh	3 – 12	1204	coed	test
Mary Erskine’s	Edinburgh	12 – 18	771	girls	test
Stewarts Melville	Edinburgh	12 – 18	784	boys	test
Fairview International School	Bridge of Allan	5 – 14 * expanding	100+	coed		International Baccalaureate
Fernhill School	Rutherglen	2 – 18	200	coed		Catholic School
Fettes College Leading Boarding School –	Edinburgh	7 – 18	758	coed	test expensive	English exams
George Heriot’s School	Edinburgh	3 – 18	1665	coed	test
George Watson’s School	Edinburgh	3 – 18	2470	coed	test
Glasgow Academy	Glasgow	3 – 18	1510	coed	test
Glenalmond College Mainly boarding	Perth	12 – 18	338	coed
Gordonstoun School Mainly boarding	Elgin	5 -18	338	coed		English exams
Hamilton College	Hamilton	3 – 18	438	coed		Christian School
The High School of Dundee	Dundee	3 – 18	1009	coed
The High School of Glasgow	Glasgow	3 – 18	979	coed	test
Hutcheson’s Grammar School	Glasgow	3 – 18	1251	coed	test
International School of Aberdeen	Aberdeen	3 – 18	465	coed		International Baccalaureate
Kelvinside Academy	Glasgow	1 – 18	680	coed	test
Kilgraston School	Bridge of Earn	5 – 18	262	girls
Lathallan School	Johnshaven	1 – 18	233	coed
Lomond School	Helensburgh	3 – 18	317	coed	Academic assessment
Loretto Day/boarding	Musselburgh	1 -18	525	coed		Nat 5, English, International
Merchiston Castle Mainly boarding	Edinburgh	7 – 18	437	boys	test
Morrison Academy	Crieff	3 – 18	477	coed	test
Robert Gordon College	Aberdeen	3 – 18	1583	coed	test
St. Aloysius College	Glasgow	3 – 18	849	coed	test	Catholic/Jesuit
St. Columba’s School	Kilmalcolm	3 – 18	619	coed	test
St. George’s School	Edinburgh	3 – 18	740	girls
St. Leonards	St. Andrews	4 – 18	543	coed
St. Margaret’s School for Girls	Aberdeen	3 – 18	384	girls	test
St. Mary’s Preparatory School	Melrose	2 – 13	174	coed
Strathallan School Day and boarding	Perth	9 – 18	514	coed
Wellington School	Ayr	3 – 18	478	coed	test