St Leonards School
St Leonards School
Org 1: HMC
St Andrews, Fife KY16 9QJ
Telephone: 01334 472126
Motto: Ad Vitam
Age Range: Pre-Prep/Infants, Prep/Junior to 11, Prep/Junior to 13, Senior to 16, Senior to 18
Day or Boarding: Day, Weekly Boarding, Full Boarding, Flexi/Occasional Boarding
Gender: Co-ed
Exams offered: International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, GCSE, IGCSE
Scholarships Tick: Academic, Art, Drama, Music, Sport
Scholarships Other Types: Drumming, Golf, Piping
Bursaries and discounts: New entrant bursary
Scholarships and bursaries – further details
St Leonards School offers means-tested academic bursaries, and a Tom Morris Golf Scholarship, awarded to one student per year at the discretion of the Director of Golf, in recognition of outstanding talent and dedication to the game of golf. The Tom Morris Scholarship carries a fee remission for boarding students. All other scholarships at St Leonards (Art, Drama, Music, Pipes & Drums, Academic, Sport) are not associated with any fee remission, rather are a recognition of excellence in that particular area.
Situated in the heart of St Andrews, St Leonards offers an outstanding co-educational boarding and day education for pupils aged five to 18, combining high academic achievement and opportunity with an inspirational atmosphere.
There are approximately 600 pupils in the School, of 35 different nationalities, with an equal number of boys and girls and around 150 boarders.
St Leonards was named Scottish Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024 by the Sunday Times. It also won the title of School of the Year for International Student Experience 2022 at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards.
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.
In Years 7–11, pupils follow the MYP, followed by IGCSEs – typically around ten. A one-year Pre-IB course is also offered (equivalent to Year 11).
Years 1–6 follow the PYP, with all our IB Programmes ensuring a seamless learner journey, from Year 1 up to Year 13.
University connection. The School has close links with the University of St Andrews, which was named top UK university by The Times Good University Guide for 2024. 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. Students regularly enjoy success on the playing field in sports, including rugby, lacrosse, hockey, tennis and football. They 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 Programme, delivered in partnership with St Andrews Links Golf Academy, 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 the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, sailing, beach club and debating. Trips abroad are organised throughout the school year, with recent destinations including a Geography trip to Iceland, skiing in the Alps, golf in La Manga, Spain, 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 (2024-2025). Years 1–3: £4,056, Years 4–6: £5,027 (day) or £9,938 (boarding), Years 7–9: £6,181 (day) or £12,080 (boarding), Years 10–13: £6,568 (day) or £15,482 (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: Mr Danny Campbell
Ms Jenny Brown, BA Hons
Mrs Victoria Collison-Owen, MA
Mr Paul Dollman, BSc Hons, CA
Mr Andy Goor, BA Hons, ACMA
Mrs Laura Jacks, JD
Mr John Lalis
Mr Andrew Peddie
Mr Philip Petersen, BSc, MBA
Mrs Fenella Taylor, BA Hons
Ms Sara Robertson, BA Hons, MLitt
Ms Shauna McNeill, BSc, MBA
Mr Douglas Pickles
Head: Simon Brian, MA Hons Edinburgh
Senior Deputy Head: Dawn Pemberton-Hislop, BA Hons Sheffield, MBA Keele
Deputy Head (Academic): Will Gaisford, BA Oxon
Deputy Head (Pastoral) & Head of Boarding: Julianne Pennycook, MA Buckingham, BEd Hons Strathclyde
Head of Junior School: Claire Robertson, MA Hons St Andrews
Assistant Head of Junior School: Claire Boissiere, MA Hons Dundee
Head of Sixth Form: Aileen Rees, MA Hons Cantab
Assistant Head of Sixth Form: Thomas Finley, MMaths Nottingham
Head of Years 10 & 11: David Blair, BSc Hons Stirling
Assistant Head of Years 10 & 11: Susannah Adrain, MA Hons Dundee
Head of Years 8 & 9: Kate Gilbertson, MA Hons St Andrews
Assistant Head of Years 8 & 9: Mark Baxter, BEd Hons Edinburgh
Diploma & Career-related Programme Coordinator: Ben Seymour, BSc Hons UEA
GCSE Coordinator: Christopher Meighen, BSc Hons Edinburgh
Middle Years Programme Coordinator: Sharon Moan, BSc Hons Manchester Met, PGDip Leeds, MRSC
Primary Years Programme Coordinator: Catherine Brannen, MEd Aberdeen, MA Madrid
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
Assistant Registrar (International): Susanne Garnish, MA Hons, PhD St Andrews
Assistant Registrar (UK): Alison Dewar