Situated in the heart of St Andrews, St Leonards offers an outstanding co-educational boarding and day education for pupils aged four to 18, combining high academic achievement and opportunity with an inspirational atmosphere.
There are approximately 500 pupils in the School, of 38 different nationalities, with an equal number of boys and girls and around 150 boarders.
St Leonards was named Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2026 by the Sunday Times. It was also shortlisted for Independent School of the Year: North 2025 at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards, and it won the title of Sunday Times' Scottish Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024.
Ethos. Founded in 1877, St Leonards aims to prepare young people for the challenges of life ahead, in line with the School’s motto ‘Ad Vitam’, and to provide them with the skills to step into the world with confidence and integrity. We offer a broad, rigorous education and exceptional opportunities, while instilling confidence, responsibility and independence.
Location and campus. St Leonards combines a beautiful, historic campus with the cultural and academic buzz that comes from being in the heart of the seaside university town of St Andrews.
The School is situated in a secure campus within the medieval walls of the former St Andrews Priory. The site has served as a place of learning since the 16th century and contains several buildings of historical significance, including our library, a building once used by Mary Queen of Scots as lodgings.
Students at St Leonards have sandy beaches, historic landmarks and world-famous golf courses on their doorstep, as well as the friendly town of St Andrews itself, in which our pupils are made to feel very much part of the community.
St Andrews is less than an hour from Edinburgh and just 20 minutes from Dundee (a one-hour flight from London).
Curriculum. St Leonards was the first school in Scotland to be accredited as an all-through International Baccalaureate School, delivering the inspiring Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma and Career-related Programme in the Sixth Form.
Years Kindergarten to 6 follow the PYP, with all our IB Programmes ensuring a seamless learner journey, from Kindergarten up to Year 13.
In Years 7–11, pupils follow the MYP, followed by (I)GCSEs – typically around 10. A one-year Pre-IB course is also offered (equivalent to Year 11).
St Leonards now offers a unique Postgraduate Programme, designed to support students in the transition between high school and a competitive university. The Postgraduate year offers an extra year of academic focus, personal development and global immersion to pupils who have recently finished high school.
University connection. The School has close links with the University of St Andrews, which was named second UK university by The Times Good University Guide for 2026. Each year, St Leonards appoints an Associate Researcher, a postgraduate student who provides a link for the pupils to the research community at the University. St Leonards students also have access to the University Library and Sports Centre and attend a range of lectures.
Sport, Drama, Art and Music. Pupils regularly enjoy success on the playing field in sports, including rugby, hockey, tennis, equestrian and football. In 2026, St Leonards pupils represented Team Great Britain at the Paralympics, played for the Scottish U18 Rugby team and competed for the St Andrews Links Trophy, a major amateur golf event, among other feats. Pupils are encouraged to make the most of living just a few hundred yards from the most famous golf links in the world. The School runs a leading eight-tier Golf Academy, delivered in partnership with St Andrews Links Trust, and catering to all levels, from the complete beginner to the scratch golfer.
Pupils have the opportunity to learn a wide variety of musical instruments, leading to ABRSM recognition, while Drama students can take part in a number of professional-standard productions, staged both in School and at the neighbouring Byre Theatre. Art students show off their inspiring work every year in an exhibition that is open to the public, as well as gaining national recognition in photography awards.
Co-curricular. There is an extensive range of over 50 different activities, including aviation, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, beach club and debating. Trips abroad are organised throughout the school year, with recent destinations including a Geography trip to Iceland, Art trips to Italy and France, skiing in the Alps, golf in La Manga, and historical excursions in Berlin. Community is central at St Leonards, with recent projects ranging from a 680-mile relay from Paris to St Andrews in memory of Eric Liddell, collecting supplies for Ukraine, to cooking and distributing fresh meals and toys to families in need.
Boarding. St Leonards excels in its boarding provision. Thanks to an ambitious £5 million refurbishment programme, students live in modern, stylish comfort in a country-house setting. According to a recent Care Commission inspection report, St Leonards offers its boarding pupils ‘an outstanding, Scottish, boarding experience’, with the quality of care and support and the quality of the environment rated as ‘excellent’. Full, flexi and weekly boarding is available from the age of 10.
Fees per term (2026–2027). Kindergarten: £4,080, Years 1–3: £4,901, Years 4–6: £6,071 (day) or £12,285 (boarding), Years 7–9: £7,466 (day) or £14,993 (boarding), Years 10–13: £7,931 (day) or £19,138 (boarding). Weekly and flexi boarding fees are also available.
Admission. Applications can be considered for any year group, at any time during the school year, although some year groups do have waiting lists and early application is recommended. Financial assistance may be given, based on need. Full details are available from the Registrar.
Charitable status. St Leonards School is a Registered Charity, number SC010904.
Governors & Staff:
Members of Council:
Chair: Philip Petersen, BSc, MBA
Shauna McNeill, BSc, MBA
Jenny Brown, BA Hons
Andy Goor, BA Hons, ACMA
Annie Long
Lesley Franklin, MA, MLitt
Keith Millican, MA Hons
Sara Mills, MLitt
Andrew Peddie
Mr Douglas Pickles
Fenella Taylor, BA Hons
John Brink
Head: Simon Brian, MA Hons Edinburgh
Senior Deputy Head: Dawn Pemberton-Hislop, BA Hons Sheffield, MBA Keele
Deputy Head (Academic): Will Gaisford, BA Oxon, MEd
Interim Deputy Head (Pastoral) & Head of Boarding: Rachel McQuillin, MA Cantab, PGCE
Head of Junior School: Claire Robertson, MA Hons St Andrews
Assistant Head of Junior School: Claire Boissiere, MA Hons Dundee
Head of Sixth Form: Christopher Meighen, BSc Hons Edinburgh
Assistant Head of Sixth Form: Dr Catherine Grainger, BSc Hons Dunelm, MSc, PhD, FHEA
Head of Futures & Theory of Knowledge: Dr Catherine Grainger, Dr Catherine Grainger, BSc Hons Dunelm, MSc, PhD, FHEA
Head of Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & Pre-IB: Susannah Adrain, MA Hons Dundee
Assistant Head of Years 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 & Pre-IB: Mark Baxter, BEd Hons Edinburgh
Diploma & Career-related Programme Coordinator: Christopher Meighen, BSc Hons Edinburgh
Middle Years Programme & GCSE Coordinator: Sharon Moan, BSc Hons Manchester Met, PGDip Leeds, MRSC
Primary Years Programme Coordinator: Claire Robertson, MA Hons St Andrews
Director of Finance & Operations: Hannah Hawkins, MBA Northampton, CBCI
Director of External Relations: Shereen Derkani, BA Hons Nottingham
Registrar: Chantelle Robson, BA Hons Robert Gordons
Admissions Officer: Suzanne Garnish, MA Hons, PhD St Andrews
Admissions Officer: Nikki Blackadder, BA Hons Middlesex