St Leonards School
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
St Leonards School
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Overview
St Leonards is a co-educational Scottish boarding and day school located in the heart of the historic university town of St Andrews on the east coast of Scotland, around an hour from Edinburgh by rail or road. Founded in 1877, St Leonards adopted the IB in 2006 and was only the second British boarding school to offer the IB program 'All through' from the primary years to Sixth Form, and recently the School was named Scottish Independent School of the year 2024 (Academic Performance) by the Sunday Times. St Andrews is world famous as the home of golf and boasts the Old Course, a regular venue for The Open championship, along with 6 others. Unsurprisingly then the School is popular with golfers and the School's golf offering is top notch.
At a glance
Academic
The IB learner profile connects all pupils, from joining the School through to choosing between the IB Diploma and the IB Career-related Programme in the Sixth Form, while a 1 Year PreIB is available for pupils joining directly into Year 11. The average IB Diploma score is an impressive 35. Academic facilities include a dedicated Science building with 6 teaching labs, a purpose built Music School and a library containing a room that Mary Queen of Scots once slept in! The School has close connections with the prestigious University of St Andrews, providing opportunities to attend masterclasses and extend learning far beyond the curriculum. The CAS element of the IB drives co-curricular activities such as the popular Crime Club and even bee-keeping!
Boarding
The 3 boarding houses, one for years 6-11 and one each for Sixth Form boys and girls, were recently refurbished to a very high standard at a cost of £4m, and each boasts a unique character and country house feel. Around 25% of secondary students board to some degree, rising to 50% in the Sixth Form, there are no Exeat weekends and the community comes together to eat at Restaurant 1877. Every Sixth Former whether day or boarding is in one of the 2 Sixth Form boarding houses, where they study, socialise and relax, while all pupils are also in one of 4 'competitive houses', each named after a Scottish island, ensuring a lively interhouse rivalry. The School was named 2022 Independent School of the Year for International Student Experience.
Sports
Sport is important at St Leonards as part of a healthy, active lifestyle and for the life skills it can develop, and timetabled PE lessons continue into Year 12. The School is most famous for golf, with 6 tiers to its Academy ranging from beginners to those seeking US college scholarships and professional careers. It is run in partnership with the St Andrews Links Golf Academy, which offers state of the art facilities and access to 7 spectacular links courses in the town. The School is also known as the 'cradle of lacrosse' as the location of the first ever girls lacrosse match. Alongside the core sports competitive fixtures are also arranged in rifle shooting and cross-country, while interhouse fixtures ensure everyone gets to take part.
Creative arts
Creative Arts play a huge part in life at St Leonards via the curriculum and through co-curricular activities. Printmaking, Textiles, Drawing & Painting, CAD, Video Art, Sculpture and Photography are all offered and a public exhibition of students' work is hosted every year in the School’s impressive studios. Participation in Drama at all levels is encouraged and students can pursue Trinity Guildhall acting exams. Several major productions are hosted each year, often in the nearby professional Byre theatre, and the 'St Leonards Players' have taken original works to the Edinburgh fringe. The purpose-built Music school boasts a state-of-the-art auditorium and 9 teaching/practice rooms and the School's numerous ensembles perform regularly.
Did you know?
- St Andrews cathedral, now sadly in ruins, was once the largest building in Scotland and the religious centre of the country. On its consecration in 1318 legend has it that King Robert the Bruce rode down the aisle of the nave on his horse!
- The town's Royal and Ancient Golf Club is home to the Old Course, quite possibly the most famous golf course in the world. It is a frequent venue for The Open Championship, and until 2004 the club was accepted as the guardian of the rules of Golf.
