George Heriot's School

George Heriot founded our school in 1628 with a charitable vision that we continue to pursue today.

Heriot’s is Scotland’s leading independent school (as voted by The Sunday Times 2020 and the Independent School Parent magazine 2021). We welcome children of all backgrounds who will flourish in our happy, caring and stimulating environment.Pupils aged 4 to 18 learn side by side, as part of one big Heriot’s family.

Pupils aged 4 to 18 learn side by side, as part of one big Heriot’s family.

George Heriot founded our school in the early 17th century to provide an education to 'fatherless bairns' in the city of Edinburgh.

George Heriot’s School is a happy school. We care about our pupils and they care about each other. It is an ethos rooted in the Heriot’s Foundation which remains the beating heart of our school. We have high expectations of our young people and ask each individual to try their best. In return, we provide every opportunity for our young people to flourish.

Our staff are passionate about teaching and our children like to learn. Heriot’s record of results in national exams is among the very best in Scotland, and each year brings some remarkable individual successes. At Heriot’s, we focus on each individual’s potential, in all facets of their character.

Every child should feel seen and heard, and the relatively small size of Heriot’s means that no pupil is overlooked. Familiarity among pupils and staff, and across year groups, ensures that we look out for one another. Relationships are invested with warmth and trust. There is a real sense that this is a family community.

Work hard, be kind, be yourself  is one of the first things our pupils learn on joining George Heriot’s School. For many, these values stand them in good stead for a lifetime.

Charitable heart

Care and respect for others sit at the very core of our community. Founder George Heriot established the school in 1628 to educate Edinburgh’s ‘faitherless bairns’. Today, the Foundation continues to provide free places for children who have lost a parent. Over 5,500 Foundationers have benefited from a fully funded Heriot’s education since  the school opened, while today the school is a recognised specialist for its work in grief support. Heriot Bursaries are available to other pupils in need of financial assistance to benefit from a Heriot’s education.

Distribute chearfullie (of kindness, of support, of generosity) is the school’s official motto. It is embroidered onto the pockets of the distinctive school blazer to remind us daily of our founder’s philanthropic vision. Within school there is a focus on giving back, with a broad voluntary service programme and charitable activity in every year group.

Academic excellence

Heriot’s is one of Scotland’s leading independent schools – and Edinburgh’s oldest (1628) – with a reputation for academic success. We celebrate hard work and achievement, yet not just in pursuit of top exam results. Every child is valued as an individual, with a unique set of abilities, needs and interests. Our focus is on developing each child’s potential in a happy, caring and stimulating environment.

Heriot’s delivers an education which leads the market and exemplifies best practice. Our curriculum is purposefully broad in content, while our SQA results place us consistently in the top three of Edinburgh schools. In terms of teaching Philosophy, schools from afar attend our best practice workshops, while our teachers contribute to the wider educational landscape as SQA markers and HMle Inspectors.

Work hard. Be kind. Be yourself. It’s a simple set of values which underpin all we do.