What are the best secondary schools in Falkirk?

This guide ranks the top 8 state secondary schools in Falkirk by their most recent HM Inspectorate of Education inspection grade. Schools rated Excellent appear first. For National 5 and Higher results, see our league tables.

How do secondary school admissions work in Falkirk?

Secondary school applications are typically submitted through your local authority in the autumn of Year 6. Criteria vary by school — distance, siblings, faith, and academic selection (grammar schools) are common factors.

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Page updated 3 Oct 2026

Generated from our verified dataset of official inspection and admissions data · Reviewed April 2026 · How we write

Top-Rated Secondary Schools in Falkirk

The 8 highest-rated state secondary schools in Falkirk, sorted by their most recentHM Inspectorate of Education inspection grade. Compare National 5 and Higher results in our league tables and explore schools near you on the interactive map.

Falkirk has 8 state secondary schools educating pupils from S1 through to National 5s, Highers and beyond. Across the area, 3% of schools are rated Excellent by HM Inspectorate of Education.

How this list is ranked

HMIE grade first (Excellent → Unsatisfactory on the six-point "How good is our school?" scale), with pupil roll as a tiebreaker. Un-inspected schools rank below graded ones. Scotland's inspection cycle is long, so many grades are several years old — each school shows its inspection date; always check the most recent report.

Sources: HM Inspectorate of Education inspection reports · Official school census data (DfE / SG / WG / DENI) · last refreshed monthly from official sources.

Not used in this ranking: Exam results, parent satisfaction, admissions difficulty, fees, scholarship generosity, leaver destinations.

“Best” is a shorthand. The right school for your child depends on their needs, the commute, admissions priority, and many other factors this list cannot capture.

The top 5 in Falkirk at a glance

1. Larbert High School — rated Excellent (2017) · 2,065 pupils
2. St Mungo's RC High School — rated Very Good (2012) · 1,226 pupils · Roman Catholic
3. Graeme High School — rated Very Good (2020) · 1,177 pupils
4. Braes High School — rated Very Good (2023) · 1,126 pupils
5. Falkirk High School — rated Very Good (2012) · 1,123 pupils

Key Secondary Admissions Dates

1
P1/S1 registration — Set by each council; windows run from November to March
2
Placing requests — By 15 March to be answered by 30 April (some councils set an earlier date)
3
Placing-request decisions — By 30 April
4
Term starts — Mid-August

Exact dates vary by local authority. Check your council's website for confirmed deadlines.

8secondaries ranked

1Excellent

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1

Larbert High School

StateSecondary

HMIE: Excellent

2065 pupils

Excellent

2

MR

St Mungo's RC High School

StateSecondaryRoman Catholic

1226 pupils

Very Good

3

GH

Graeme High School

StateSecondary

1177 pupils

Very Good

4

BH

Braes High School

StateSecondary

1126 pupils

Very Good

5

Falkirk High School

StateSecondary

1123 pupils

Very Good

6

Denny High School

StateSecondary

1397 pupils

Good

7

Grangemouth High School

StateSecondary

830 pupils

Good

8

Bo'ness Academy

StateSecondary

817 pupils

Good

Best secondary schools in nearby areas

Part of Best secondary schools across Scotland.

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Page updated 3 Oct 2026

Generated from our verified dataset of official inspection and admissions data · Reviewed April 2026 · How we write

Top-Rated Secondary Schools in Falkirk

The 8 highest-rated state secondary schools in Falkirk, sorted by their most recentHM Inspectorate of Education inspection grade. Compare National 5 and Higher results in our league tables and explore schools near you on the interactive map.

Falkirk has 8 state secondary schools educating pupils from S1 through to National 5s, Highers and beyond. Across the area, 3% of schools are rated Excellent by HM Inspectorate of Education.

How this list is ranked

HMIE grade first (Excellent → Unsatisfactory on the six-point "How good is our school?" scale), with pupil roll as a tiebreaker. Un-inspected schools rank below graded ones. Scotland's inspection cycle is long, so many grades are several years old — each school shows its inspection date; always check the most recent report.

Sources: HM Inspectorate of Education inspection reports · Official school census data (DfE / SG / WG / DENI) · last refreshed monthly from official sources.

Not used in this ranking: Exam results, parent satisfaction, admissions difficulty, fees, scholarship generosity, leaver destinations.

“Best” is a shorthand. The right school for your child depends on their needs, the commute, admissions priority, and many other factors this list cannot capture.

The top 5 in Falkirk at a glance

1. Larbert High School — rated Excellent (2017) · 2,065 pupils
2. St Mungo's RC High School — rated Very Good (2012) · 1,226 pupils · Roman Catholic
3. Graeme High School — rated Very Good (2020) · 1,177 pupils
4. Braes High School — rated Very Good (2023) · 1,126 pupils
5. Falkirk High School — rated Very Good (2012) · 1,123 pupils

Key Secondary Admissions Dates

1
P1/S1 registration — Set by each council; windows run from November to March
2
Placing requests — By 15 March to be answered by 30 April (some councils set an earlier date)
3
Placing-request decisions — By 30 April
4
Term starts — Mid-August