Loretto School

LOCATION

NUMBER OF PUPILS

AGE RANGE 3-18 BOARDING AND DAY PUPILS, CO-ED QUALIFICATIONS

A-LEVEL

MUSSELBURGH

600

GCSE AND

A holistic approach is what sets Loretto School apart. Traditional and innovative educational methods, first-class facilities, and the advantages offered by a smaller school combine to provide a uniquely rounded learning experience for both girls and boys.

Founded in 1827, and located in an enclosed 85-acre campus to the east of Edinburgh, Loretto is one of Scotland’s leading independent co-educational schools and Scotland’s oldest boarding school. It was founded to blend academic excellence with a range of experiences beyond the classroom, to ensure its pupils can realise their true potential.

Each student is encouraged to develop the range of talents they possess – hence the aim of supporting each individual to excel in mind, body and spirit.

The small family orientated place of learning offers a combination of day and boarding education across its senior, junior and pre-school provision.

A Loretto education begins at the Pre-school where youngsters’ natural curiosity is encouraged and key skills developed from an early age, within a teacher-led setting with a broad curriculum on offer.

Specialist teachers support each child to thrive both in and out of the classroom through subjects including modern languages, art, physical education, and outdoor education.

Affectionately known as “The Nippers”, Loretto Junior School educates around 150 children aged 3-12, with boarders welcome from age 11.

Junior pupils benefit from a rich learning environment with purpose-built spaces on campus for sports, green spaces to foster exploration, and an extensive after-school programme of enriching activities.

In the Senior School, pupils flourish into intelligent, caring and confident people who are at home anywhere in the world.

Academic achievement is fundamental in today’s competitive world, and so it is reassuring to know that Loretto’s record is outstanding.

So much so the school is ranked in the top-six independent schools nationally for A level results in 2023, with 99 per cent of leavers moving onto their destination of choice – including universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews and York.

Extra curricular activities play an important role at Loretto and its pupils are often selected for national and international sports teams. They also gain a broad insight of drama skills in state-of-the-art facilities, and all Lorettonians are encouraged to learn to play musical instruments from Junior School onwards.

All Loretto pupils can grow and develop their talents away from the classroom, and the school’s outstanding achievements in extra-curricular activities is testament to that.

“To me, being a Lorettonian means I am confident, happy and secure because Loretto is not just a school, it is much more,” said one sixth-former on his experience. “Loretto strengthens my existing talents and nurtures lesser ones. Perhaps not the highest achiever, but not any less valued, I can be the best I can be.”

Established in 2002 on the school campus, the Loretto Golf Academy has become widely recognised for its world-class golf programme, attracting young golfers from across the globe and boasting innovative practice facilities and programmes for both beginners and advanced golfers.

Many students who want to pursue golf find that Loretto allows them to excel both in school and on the golf course. Working closely with Scottish Golf, and in partnership with championship courses at Craigielaw and Archerfield, the Academy ensures it is at the cutting edge of schools’ golf.

Financial support is available, with scholarships and meanstested bursaries to help prospective pupils who are likely to benefit from a Loretto education, and who will contribute to the school’s closeknit and vibrant community.