THE first league table of Scotland’s primary schools for 2025 has been released, revealing the best and worst performers.
Published by The Sunday Times, the rankings examine the percentage of pupils meeting the required standards in core skills – writing, numeracy, and combined listening and talking.
The Sunday Times rankings examine the percentage of pupils meeting required core skills[/caption]
The league table is based on teacher assessments[/caption]
The data, based on teacher assessments, is drawn from the same government statistics used by policymakers to make decisions about schools and nurseries in Scotland.
In addition to pupil skill development, a school’s location can influence its ranking, with those in more deprived areas often rated higher due to their efforts to provide quality education despite poverty-related challenges.
Nearly 1,200 primary schools submitted data, with a maximum score of 400 available.
Topping the 2025 table is Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School in West Lothian, which achieved the maximum score of 400.
It was one of 89 schools to achieve this score but was ranked first because 90 per cent of its pupils come from deprived areas.
The West Lothian school employs unique strategies to support its pupils, such as providing cuddly toys to comfort new pupils and incorporating classroom teddies and a large teddy bear in a designated “chill-out” area to aid learning.
Teachers report that the toys help pupils “let their feelings out by projecting them onto the bear” and foster a sense of community, enabling pupils to “help and support each other”.
The school has observed a “decline in disruptive behaviour” and noted that pupils have become “more open and caring”.
In a progress report to West Lothian Council, Our Lady of Lourdes cited its teddy bear policy as one of the reasons for its success.
Headteacher Eileen Brennan explained: “The policy is about being friendly and welcoming, providing cuddles and comfort, and being non-judgemental.”
The school has also implemented a scheme to reduce the “cost of the school day”, which includes a free breakfast club, access to school uniforms, and collaboration with the parish and community groups to ensure pupils can take part in school trips.
Brennan continued: “It’s all about getting our children into a state of learning readiness, and it comes down to our environment.
Scotland’s top ten primary schools
- Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, West Lothian
- St Catherine’s Primary School, Renfrewshire
- St John’s Primary School, Ayr South Ayrshire
- Scotstoun Primary School, Glasgow City
- Greenhill Primary School, North Lanarkshire
- St Timothy’s Primary School, North Lanarkshire
- Holmston Primary School, South Ayrshire
- St Anthony’s Primary School, North Ayrshire
- St Andrew’s RC Primary School, Dundee City
- St Francis Xavier’s RC Primary School, Falkirk
“It’s also about meeting those basic needs. Have they had something to eat in the morning? If they haven’t, we make sure there’s something available for them.”
Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of Our Lady of Lourdes pupils are classified as very deprived according to the Scottish Government’s Index of Multiple Deprivation.
This figure is slightly higher than that of the second-placed school, St Catherine’s Primary in Renfrewshire, where 62 per cent of pupils are considered very deprived.
St Catherine’s achieved top marks for the third consecutive year, having also led the league table in 2023.
In third place is St Timothy’s Primary School in North Lanarkshire, with 80 per cent of its pupils coming from deprived backgrounds.
At the other end of the table, Scotland’s worst-performing primary school is Annette Street Primary School in Glasgow, which scored just 160 out of 400.
Methilhill Primary & Community in Fife (170) and Dales Park Primary School in Aberdeenshire (200) complete the bottom three.
According to the analysis, a record 89 schools achieved the maximum score of 400 this year, up from 84 last year and significantly higher than the 50 schools that reached the top score when the Scottish Government began collecting data in 2016/17.
The full searchable table of 1200 schools is available here.
Scotland’s bottom ten primary school
- Annette Street Primary School, Glasgow City
- Methilhill Primary & Community, Fife
- Dales Park Primary School, Aberdeenshire
- Mount Pleasant Primary, Highland
- St Bride’s Primary School, Glasgow City
- Langfaulds Primary School, Glasgow City
- Raploch Primary School, Stirling
- St Patrick’s Primary School – Auchinleck, East Ayrshire
- Obsdale Primary, Highland
- Warout Primary & Community School, Fife
The best and worst schools have been ranked for 2025[/caption]
