SPONSORED: Take your search for a Scottish independent school online

Finding the right Scottish independent school for your child is a big decision, and one you shouldn’t rush.

With restrictions in place, in-person open days aren’t really an option at the moment – but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a look around and find out more about what’s on offer.

From virtual open days and online tour videos, to friendly admissions staff ready to talk via phone or email, independent schools across Scotland are more than happy to help you discover what they’re all about.

Here, we’re sharing an introduction to some Scottish independent schools and information about how you can find out more. Check it out.

High School of Dundee

You can’t visit in person at the moment, but the High School of Dundee would still love to show you around and give you a real flavour of how it can help to unlock your child’s potential.

It recognises that each child is different, with something special that they can bring to the world. It covers a broad range of curricular subjects and offers around 100 co-curricular activities.

The school aims to educate the whole child, identify their strengths and tailor opportunities to inspire them beyond their school years and achieve their potential.

Join High School of Dundee for a Virtual Open Morning on Saturday 20th March 2021 for the chance to join virtual tours and explore the Junior Years, Senior Years and Nursery.

You’ll find out more about in-school learning, learning from home, co-curriculum and much, much more. You’ll also have the chance to hear from staff, parents, former pupils and current pupils.

The event will feature a Q&A session and you’ll also have the opportunity to arrange follow-up discussions for after the event.

If you have any questions about High School of Dundee, please contact its admissions team at admissions@highschoolofdundee.org.uk

Preregistration for High School of Dundee’s Virtual Open Morning is required. Please reserve your place here.

 

Drumduan School

Drumduan School is an independent, modern and progressive Steiner school located in Moray, on the beautiful North-East coast of Scotland.

It offers a comprehensive, uniquely child-centered curriculum from Kindergarten to Class 12 in an unhurried, supportive and creative environment. Lessons include a balance of artistic, practical and academic content, immersed in nature, which allows students to develop a deep understanding of their inter connectedness with it.

At Drumduan, children find the joy in learning and experience the richness of childhood while being fully prepared for the future academically, emotionally and physically.

Each student is recognised for his or her unique gifts and capabilities, and nurtured in an environment where their value is celebrated, not measured. Encouraging every student to feel a true sense of worth and self-confidence is at the heart of teaching.

Steiner education provides a 100-year-old, internationally recognised curriculum, with an emphasis on meeting the developmental needs of the growing child in a healthy, balanced and creative way. There are currently over 1,100 Steiner Schools worldwide in 64 different countries.

Drumduan School is happy to enrol new students throughout the year.

Please visit the Drumduan School website for more information, here.

Wellington School

Wellington School in Ayr is an independent day school which welcomes both girls and boys from age 3 to 18, at any stage in their educational journey.

Consisting of three impressive turreted buildings overlooking the sea, Wellington offers children the best possible start in life through excellent teaching, high quality pastoral care and a rich choice of extra-curricular activities.

Wellington boasts some of the best SQA results in Scotland, many pupils go on to take up places for highly competitive courses at top universities and specialist institutions in Scotland and other parts of the UK.

A particular strength of the school is the smooth transition between the Junior and Senior stages. Special arrangements in Primary 7 allow pupils to spend half their academic week with specialist Senior School teachers, extending learning at an earlier age and providing an easier integration into Senior School life.

The school holds International status, an accolade awarded by the British Council, which sees international education embedded in the curriculum at all stages. As a result, pupils have access to a wide range of opportunities to broaden their horizons and forge meaningful links with other countries.

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the creativity and determination of the Wellington community has shone through. Teachers and pupils are continuing to participate enthusiastically in remote learning by means of ‘Wellington Online’ and engage in an impressive variety of innovative lessons and activities.

Wellington can unlock the full potential of your child. Why not start the journey now?

Applications now welcome for August 2021.

For admissions enquiries, please contact Marian Dunlop, Admissions Registrar on 01292 269321 or via email at admissions@wellingtonschool.org.

Find out more about Wellington School online here.

Fettes College

Situated in 100 acres of private, wooded grounds in the heart of Edinburgh, Fettes is one of the UK’s leading co-educational boarding schools for students aged 7-18.

Its mission is to develop broadly educated, confident and thoughtful individuals who are prepared for life after Fettes and all the opportunities it will bring.

Its full-boarding ethos, nurturing community and sector-leading pastoral care ensures that students are happy and well supported so they can truly flourish.

Whilst the school can’t welcome visitors to the campus at the moment, it wants to continue to bring Fettes to life for families thinking of joining. Let its greatest ambassadors, the students, show you around virtually in its virtual visit film.

Fettes is also very happy to arrange virtual appointments with a member of the Admission Department for an initial chat, a houseparent to hear about boarding or indeed a one-to-one appointment with the Head of Fettes College or Headmaster of Fettes Prep.

View Fettes virtual visit film or arrange an appointment online here.

Strathallan

For over 100 years, Strathallan has done things its own way. Its 153-acre campus is home to some of the best facilities in the country, and a tailored curriculum of Highers, Advanced Highers and A-Levels is the broadest available at a Scottish co-educational boarding school. Whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find a place for it at Strathallan.

Strathallan’s aim has always been to bring out the very best in every pupil, and its non-selective admissions policy means it gets to welcome some truly remarkable young people.

Some go on to play sports for their country, others excel academically or artistically, and still more enjoy all-round successes. Strathallan School changes the game. Are you ready to discover where Strathallan could take you?

Discreetly set within Strathallan’s safe, rural campus,  the Prep School is a small, tight-knit community that benefits from access to the extensive facilities of the whole School. Pupils enjoy the expertise of specialist teachers and coaches combined with small class sizes. This means every pupil – day or boarding – has the opportunity to broaden their skills and discover what inspires them. Explore Strathallan’s Prep School here.

Visit Strathallan online and download a prospectus here.

International School Aberdeen

International School Aberdeen (ISA) believes healthy communities and positive learning environments are always built on the quality of human relationships. This is evident from its Virtual Open Days which are truly the next best thing to seeing the superb facilities in person.

Virtual Open Days have been designed to give you a sense of the level of care that makes ISA special. Step into the virtual world of ISA to experience its twenty first century campus, with pool, theatre, gyms, two-story library, science and design labs, the specialist art, music and drama studios, the spacious classrooms, the wide and welcoming corridors and the incredible outdoor spaces.

Prior to attending an ISA Virtual Open Day, families will have already talked to friendly admissions staff, Krista and Autumn.

The online session includes videos, a virtual tour and question and answer sessions. If you want to learn more or apply, a one-to-one conversation is scheduled.

From there you will be placed in the care of ISA’s full-time counsellor, who will personally see your family through the process of transition to a new school.

As Scotland’s first international school, ISA educates children from age 3 to 18. With its small class sizes and first-rate learning, language and counselling support, your child will receive the support they need to prepare them to thrive in a globalised world.

To find out more visit the ISA website here.

Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools (ESMS)

 

Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools (ESMS) is a unique family of independent schools for girls and boys from age 3 in Edinburgh’s West End, offering sector-leading rounded education with outstanding academic results, strong pastoral care and over 300 extra-curricular activities.

This all-round approach gives every pupil the opportunity to excel and children leave the Schools as accomplished, resilient adults, grounded by the nine school values and determined to make a positive mark on the world.

It is also rare amongst Edinburgh day schools in offering a co-educational Boarding House for girls and boys between the ages of 10-18. Dean Park Boarding House provides a comfortable, close-knit and happy home-from-home for children whose parents may work overseas or live too far from Edinburgh to commute daily. The small size means that boarding is just like being a member of an extended family, and children forge deep and lasting friendships.

During lockdown, ESMS launched a new digital curriculum where teachers pulled out all the stops, creatively and digitally, to enable pupils to continue their learning and connect with teachers and friends during fun, interactive online lessons.

Get in touch at any time to book your personal call and find out more. Families interested in Junior School education can also sign-up to its upcoming Virtual Coffee Morning on Saturday, 27 March. Sign-up on the ESMS website.

Find out more about ESMS online here.

Fairview International School

Set in the idyllic spa town of Bridge of Allan, Fairview International School is home to a rich heritage of providing inspirational learning to pupils for the past forty years.

The school offers students the highly respected International Baccalaureate programme, available to students of all ages.

By following this inspirational way of learning, your child will develop a true love of learning over their educational lifetime.

As one of only a very few schools to offer the IB across multiple age groups in Scotland, Fairview families cherish the value that principled, international minded education gives to their children, developing them both now and for their future success.

To find out more about Fairview International School, don’t miss one of its virtual open days available, throughout the year.

For more information about Fairview International School, visit it’s website here.