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What it's like

Founded in 1827, it was bought in 1862 by Hely Hutchinson Almond, a distinguished scholar of strong and unconventional convictions, who was its Head until 1903. It has a fine 85-acre site on the banks of the River Esk, surrounded by beautiful countryside 6 miles from Edinburgh. The buildings are handsome and many recent developments have produced excellent facilities, most recently refurbished science laboratories and boarding houses, addditional art and ICT rooms and state-of-the-art sound recording studio. It is now co-educational throughout, girls having been admitted to the sixth form in 1981 and at 13 in 1995. Its emphasis is on the development of the individual through academic, intellectual, sporting, musical, dramatic pursuits in a secure environment. The policy has been to keep the school small, where staff and pupils can know each other personally. There is a staff:pupil ratio of about 1:9. Academic standards are high and results consistently good. Very strong in music, drama and art. It has long had a reputation for excellence in sports and games of which there is a wide variety; the highly successful Loretto Golf Academy teaches all aspects of the game. There are many clubs and societies, including a CCF and the pipe band. Physical fitness and regular exercise are high priorities and there is an emphasis on adventure training. There is a substantial commitment to local community services and an outstanding record in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. The school makes full use of the cultural, sporting and leisure opportunities of Edinburgh. The golf courses to the east provide the fairway for the Golf Academy at Loretto.

Pupils & entrance

Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 511 pupils: 250 day (150 boys, 100 girls), 261 boarding (150 boys, 111 girls). Senior school 12-18, 341 pupils (201 boys, 140 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 3-13 and 16. Common Entrance and own exam (entrance and scholarship) used. General all-round contribution looked for. Own junior school (The Nippers) provides 50%-70% of senior intake.

Scholarships & bursaries

Number of scholarships awarded, value up to 30% of fees: academic, all-rounder, art, golf, music, drama, sport. Also some bursaries.

Head & staff

Headmaster: Michael Mavor, in post from 2001. Educated at Loretto and Cambridge University (English). Previously Head Master at Rugby and at Gordonstoun, Course Tutor (drama) at Open University, Assistant Master at Tonbridge and Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow at Northwestern University, Illinois. Teaching staff: 48 full time, 5 part time (senior school).

Exam results

GCSE: 40 in fifth: 80% passed 8+ subjects. Average score 57. A-levels: 53 in upper sixth. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 315.

University & college entrance

100% of sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course, including to Oxbridge. Popular subjects include medicine, veterinary science, law, business studies, science, mathematics, engineering, social sciences, art and design.

Curriculum

GCSE, AS and A-levels. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4-5 subjects at AS-level, 3-4 at A-level excluding general studies; upper sixth may add further AS-levels. On average 40% take science/engineering A-levels; 30% take arts and humanities; 30% a mixture. Vocational: Work experience compulsory. Special provision: For mild to moderate specific learning difficulties (dyslexia). Languages: French, Spanish and Latin offered to GCSE and A-level. Regular exchanges. Pupils from abroad in school for varying periods of time (eg France, Germany, Thailand, Romania, Russia, Bulgaria). ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. Computers for pupil use (12 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access.

The arts

Music: Over 60% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams are taken. Many musical groups including chamber choir, sax quartet, blues band, pipes and drums, rock bands, instrumental ensemble; whole school forms a choir, singing weekly anthem in harmony. GCSE, AS and A-level music and music technology offered. Pipes and drums tours, winners of international piping competitions. Drama: GCSE, AS and A-level offered. Majority of pupils are involved in school productions. Art and design: Popular choice at GCSE, AS and A-level. Design, sculpture, textiles, photography are also offered.

Sports & activities

Sport: Rugby (autumn), hockey (spring), cricket (summer) compulsory for boys; hockey (autumn), lacrosse (spring), tennis (summer) for girls. Optional: golf, athletics, swimming, squash, sailing, fives, skiing, cross country, horse riding, sub-aqua, badminton, softball etc. The Golf Academy offers structured learning of all aspects of the game from 8 years. Activities: Pupils take gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award; also CCF and community service. Various debating groups, Amnesty International, conservation etc.

School life

Uniform: School uniform worn throughout. Houses and prefects: No competitive houses. Prefects, heads of school, head of house and house prefects - appointed by Headmaster and housemasters/mistresses. Committees for eg charities. Regular leadership seminars on service and management. Religion: Ecumenical. Sunday chapel and mid-week services compulsory. Social: Sharing of school and local facilities eg sports hall, swimming pool, squash club, theatre; carol service for town. Some organised trips abroad. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school (summer term). Meals informal cafeteria system. School shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline

All pupils adhere to a code of conduct. Policies covering drugs, alcohol, smoking etc are published in the pupils' handbook. Parents are involved in levels of disciplinary issues. For serious offences, suspension may be used; for minor offences, a system of bookings and/or detention is used. Size of school allows staff and prefects to notice and react without always resorting to formal punishment.

Former pupils

Jim Clark (motor racing); Alistair Darling MP; Norman Lamont; Marcus Brook (Data Discoveries); Lord Laing of Dunphail (United Biscuits); Sir Denis Forman (Granada TV); Sandy Carmichael (Scotland XV - 50 caps); Andrew Marr (BBC).