A Scottish school that provides teddy bears to all new pupils has come top of The Sunday Times primary school league table for 2025.
Our Lady of Lourdes Primary in West Lothian believed the teddy bear initiative was among the reasons for its success.
The Scottish top ten in the overall table is dominated by Catholic primaries and schools in west central Scotland, including two in Coatbridge and two in Ayr.
Schools submit data on the percentage of pupils “up to standard” in reading, writing, numeracy and combined listening-and-talking. The Sunday Times aggregates this data into a maximum score of 400.
A record 89 schools scored top marks this year, up from 85 last year.
Schools with a higher proportion of pupils from deprived areas are weighted to rise up The Sunday Times Primary School League table.
Liff Primary School, in Angus, and Back School, in Na h-Eileanan Siar, are new entrants this year with a perfect score, having never submitted data in the past.
Aberdour Primary, in Fife, has returned to the table with top marks, having missed the previous two annual returns.
Grantown Primary, in Highland, recorded a 160-point rise to 350 this year, its best showing since records began in 2016.
9. St Andrew’s RC Primary School, Dundee City
In ninth place is St Andrew’s RC Primary School, in Dundee City. It is the only school north of central Scotland to make the top 10, and also the only one in eastern Scotland. | Google
10. St Francis Xavier's RC Primary School
The final school in the top 10 is St Francis Xavier’s, a Catholic primary in the town of Falkirk. | Google