WITH 153 acres of spectacular Perthshire countryside to explore, there’s plenty to inspire children from the ages of five to 18 at Strathallan where the school boasts extensive facilities – over £25 million invested over the last two decades – and some impressive academic results.
Last year, students matched their best A-level results ever, with a 99.9% overall pass rate and one-third of pupils achieving three As or better. The success continued for students taking Highers and Advanced Highers, where grades have doubled since 2019.
Headmaster Mark Lauder believes this is a testament to the hard work of both pupils and staff, as well as Strathallan’s unique triple pathway that allows pupils to choose A-levels or Highers/Advanced Highers to create a truly tailored education that brings out the best in every child.
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He states: “These tremendous results are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our pupils, who should all feel immensely proud of what they have achieved. We are especially pleased to note that we have a record number of pupils with 5 As or better, demonstrating the exceptional calibre of our students and the value of our holistic, individually-focused teaching approach.”
Strathallan’s sports teams have a long-held reputation for excellence, with over 30 different sports on offer for fun, fitness, or serious competition. The school boasts eight alumni on the Scotland international rugby squad this year, and with the Rugby Academy going from strength to strength since its launch in 2022, Strathallan looks forward to continuing this tradition well into the future.
Two pupils brought home a tally of medals from the Commonwealth Youth Games, including this year’s Captain of School, Joe T, who helped Scotland make history in Rugby 7s with their first-ever team medal at a Commonwealth Games, and Evan D, who splashed to success in the pool for Scotland and Team GB this summer.
Joe says: “I can’t really put it into words – it was the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve never worked harder in my life and I couldn’t be more proud of the team. I don’t think I’ll ever forget these games.”
Strathallan’s success doesn’t stop there, though – the school’s reputation in music and drama continues to grow, and the recently launched Department for Traditional Music and Culture has put on a raft of unparalleled experiences for pupils this year, including a performance in Barbados and the chance to support Celtic rock group Skerryvore live onstage.
This rich mix of experiences impressed the judges for the Independent School of the Year Awards, where Strathallan is a finalist in the Performing Arts/Music/Drama category. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on October 10.
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So popular is Strathallan’s offering that the school started this academic session with its largest-ever school roll, bringing forward plans to expand the Prep School down to age five to keep up with demand. Prep School Head Emma Lalani says: “It’s been an incredible three years since the launch of the Prep School, and I have been so impressed with the dedication and dynamism of all the staff to strive for excellence in everything we do.
“We were the first Scottish school to join the Pre-Senior Baccalaureate, and we were recognised for the quality of our teaching with the Primary Science Mark, as well as the BSA Award for Boarding Innovation. It’s truly an exceptional place to learn and I have been so excited to be able to welcome our youngest pupils ever this year.”
Find out more about Strathallan at the school’s Open Morning on Saturday, October 7.
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