20 Edinburgh schools among the best in the UK according to The Times Parent Power guide 2026

By Neil Johnstone

Digital reporter

Published 13th Dec 2025, 17:27 GMT

The Sunday Times has produced its annual guide to help parents choose the best school for their children.

The Parent Power 2026 guide looks at academic achievement in state and independent schools across the UK, allowing parents to search schools by area.

Now in its 33rd edition, The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 is widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools.

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The guide includes a fully searchable national database of mwore than 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode. As well as an assessment of 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 area, local authority or nationally.

Here are 20 Edinburgh schools which have been ranked among the best in the country.

Portobello High School was ranked the 84th best Scottish state secondary school, down 7 places from last year. 46 per cent of pupils achieved five or more Highers (A to C grade) with 67 per cent of pupils passing five or more National 5 exams (A to C bracket)

1. Portobello High School

Portobello High School was ranked the 84th best Scottish state secondary school, down 7 places from last year. 46 per cent of pupils achieved five or more Highers (A to C grade) with 67 per cent of pupils passing five or more National 5 exams (A to C bracket) Photo: Third Party

The Edinburgh Academy was ranked as the 7th best impendent school in Scotland, down one position from last year. Nearly 90 per cent of pupils at the school achieved an A or B grade in Highers or Advanced Highers and more than 75 per cent of pupils achieved an A in their National 5 exams. The Edinburgh Academy was the winner in The Times’ Independent School of the Year in Scotland 2025.

2. Edinburgh Academy

The Edinburgh Academy was ranked as the 7th best impendent school in Scotland, down one position from last year. Nearly 90 per cent of pupils at the school achieved an A or B grade in Highers or Advanced Highers and more than 75 per cent of pupils achieved an A in their National 5 exams. The Edinburgh Academy was the winner in The Times’ Independent School of the Year in Scotland 2025. | John Devlin

St Thomas of Aquin’s High School was ranked the 21st best Scottish state secondary school, up 6 places from last year. 63 per cent of pupils achieved five or more Highers (A to C grade) with 80 per cent of pupils passing five or more National 5 exams (A to C bracket)

3. St Thomas of Aquin’s High School

St Thomas of Aquin’s High School was ranked the 21st best Scottish state secondary school, up 6 places from last year. 63 per cent of pupils achieved five or more Highers (A to C grade) with 80 per cent of pupils passing five or more National 5 exams (A to C bracket) Photo: Third Party

Currie Community High School was ranked the 36th best Scottish state secondary school, down 3 places from last year. 54 per cent of pupils achieved five or more Highers (A to C grade) with 80 per cent of pupils passing five or more National 5 exams (A to C bracket)

4. Currie Community High School

Currie Community High School was ranked the 36th best Scottish state secondary school, down 3 places from last year. 54 per cent of pupils achieved five or more Highers (A to C grade) with 80 per cent of pupils passing five or more National 5 exams (A to C bracket) | City council

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