The UK’s highest-achieving schools are revealed in the 32nd edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025. Widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools, the guide will be published online at 7am on Friday, December 6 and available in print in a 28-page supplement on Sunday, December 8.
Recognised as the definitive ranking of the UK’s top state and independent schools, this guide remains an essential resource for parents seeking the very best in education for their children.
9 out of 10 of the best high schools in Scotland are from Glasgow or the adjoining council areas (East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, etc) - making it an impressive academic year for students from the West of Scotland.
The guide includes a fully searchable national database of over 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode. As well as an assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same town, local authority or nationally.
Helen Davies, Editor of Parent Power, said: “The educational landscape is challenging – teacher shortages, rising student mental health issues and special educational needs and the Vat rise – but there is also so much to celebrate from the hard work of passionate and committed teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to boost their students and give them the very best start in life.
“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is fantastic to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century.”
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You can read the The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025 in full by clicking here.
1. Jordanhill School
Jordanhill came out in top place again in The Sunday Times Parent Power guide. They win two awards: Scottish State Secondary School of the Year and Scottish State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence. The school receives funding from the Scottish Government, and has been at the top of the academic results chart in Scotland for seven years now. | Google
2. Bearsden Academy
Bearsden Academy over in East Dunbartonshire is second on The Sunday Times list, they came in second place last year as well. Photo: Submitted
3. Mearns Castle High School - Newtown Mearns
Mearns Castle is down in East Renfrewshire - just outside of Glasgow. They came in third place, up from 8th in 2023. | Google
4. Boroughmuir High School
Boroughmuir High School over in Edinburgh comes in fourth, up from seventh in 2023. | Contributed