Figure 1.--Most of the best known private schools in Scotland are called academies. They are full-term schools. There are also colleges and preparatory schools. |
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Private or independent schools in Scotland educate about 30,000 children, a very small portion of the overall school population. Most of the schools are members of the overall British Independent Schools Council (ISC). There is also a Scottish Independent Schools Council (SISC). The Scottish Parliament recognizes the SISC as the body representing Scottish independent schools. Unlike the situation in England, all Scottish independent schools are subject to the same regime of inspections by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education as state (local authority) schools. Private scools are required to register with the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate. Most of the private schools in Scotland are located in the two largest cities--Edinburgh or Glasgow. This is especially the case of day schools. Some of the senior private schools, comparable to English opublic (private secondary) schools are well known. Fettes College in Ednburgh is probanly the the most prestigious school in Scotland. Some refer to it as the "Eton of the North". It was the school attended by Primeminister Tony Blair. Other important senior schools include: Dollar Academy in Clackmannanshire, Glenalmond College in Perth, Kinross in Elgin, Gordonstoun in Elgin, and Morrison's Academy in Crief. Many of these schools are full term schools with both preparatory and secondary programs. The preparatory schools are less well known and outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow are mostly boarding schools, although there are also day students. The preparatory schools in Scotland developed somewgat differently in Scotland than in England. As a result there are fewer stand along prep schools than is the case in England. This has begun to change somewhat in recent years as Scottish parents have become increasingly concerned with preceived declines in the state system.
Private or independent schools in Scotland educate about 30,000 children, a very small portion of the overall school population. Most of the schools are members of the overall British Independent Schools Council (ISC). There is also a Scottish Independent Schools Council (SISC). The Scottish Parliament recognizes the SISC as the body representing Scottish independent schools. Unlike the situation in England, all Scottish independent schools are subject to the same regime of inspections by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education as state (local authority) schools. Private scools are required to register with the Education and Lifelong Learning Directorate.
Most of the private schools in Scotland are located in the two largest cities--Edinburgh or Glasgow. This is especially the case of day schools. The two cities are very different, aklthough the resisdents might take issue with us here. Glasgow is a gritty industrial city. Edinburg is a more elegant city.
Some of the senior private schools, comparable to English opublic (private secondary) schools are well known. Fettes College in Ednburgh is probanly the the most prestigious school in Scotland. Some refer to it as the "Eton of the North". It was the school attended by Primeminister Tony Blair. Other important senior schools include: Dollar Academy in Clackmannanshire, Glenalmond College in Perth, Kinross in Elgin, Gordonstoun in Elgin, and Morrison's Academy in Crief. Many of these schools are full term schools with both preparatory and secondary programs.
The preparatory schools are less well known and outside of Edinburgh and Glasgow are mostly boarding schools, although there are also day students. The preparatory schools in Scotland developed somewgat differently in Scotland than in England. As a result there are fewer stand along prep schools than is the case in England. This has begun to change somewhat in recent years as Scottish parents have become increasingly concerned with preceived declines in the state system.
Scotlahd has a long history of free public education. This is largely because of the Reformation and he spread of a Calvinistic Protestantism in the country while the Church of England retained much Catholic theology and outlook. Protestats strongly believed that Christiahs should read the Bible and for this to occur, free opublic education was necessary. Public education was promoted by the Church of Scotland (17th century). This was far earlier in England where authorities even in the mid-19th century were not fully committed to public education.
Thus uin Scotland, as a result of the excellent pubically financed primary schools, it was very common for children from affluent families to attend local publically financed schools along with less-aluent neigbors. This was not common in England. Only when the children began their secondary educationdid they enroll in private schools, in many cases boarding schools in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Only in the late-19th century did the prep schools for younger children begin to appear in Scotland. And they continue to be less common than in England.
