Traditional values
Customs that foster community and reinforce principles
All of Scotland’s independent schools have original and often quirky traditions that separate them from the rest and provide a sense of belonging for both pupils and staff alike.
John Edward, Scottish Council of Independent Schools director, says: “Although the independent sector can be seen as a group and sector distinct to itself, it is important to recall that each school has its own character and ethos.
“Some traditions will be based on the principles of founders or past school leaders, while others may draw on a more specific faith or philosophy.
He adds: “Independent schools are not swayed by current trends in education and will, for example, choose to retain subjects, such as classics, if they can justify the value of learning and teaching such disciplines.”
At Ardvreck School in Crieff, a much-loved custom among both staff and pupils is a series of outdoor jaunts known as the Barvick.
Ali Kinge took over as the head of the school in June, having been a member of the Ardvreck team for some 12 years, previously serving as deputy head.
She says: “It goes back to when the school was founded in 1883 and is when, four Saturdays a year, the whole school goes out into the countryside in groups to enjoy a day of walking and comradeship and being together.
“Some might go off up a Munro; we do like Munro-bagging at Ardvreck.
“Some go off in minibuses to places a bit further afield, and it is all a part of our outdoor ethos and building resilience. It is a great tradition.”
The name Barvick comes from a nearby burn and favourite Munros bagged by Ardvreck expeditions include Beinn Ghlas, Ben Chonzie, Ben Vorlich and Ben Lui.
Similarly, at Esrkine Stewart’s Melville Schools in Edinburgh, outdoor adventures, including hillwalking, climbing and mountain biking, have become an important part of the pupils’ overall education.
Principal Linda Moule says: “Things like the eight-day Carbisdale [camping trip] have become a real right of passage, and are what we are immensely proud of. They are things we want to make sure that we continue to give to young people.
“We want to give them the opportunity to explore Scotland and all that it has to offer in terms of the outdoors.”
Esrkine Stewart’s Melville Schools is made up of the Junior School, the Mary Erskine School for girls, Stewart’s Melville College for boys and the ESMS Sixth Form College.
Moule adds: “The Mary Erskine School has been around since 1964 and the boys’ school has been since the mid-1800s and so there are a number of traditions that have developed over time.
“Individual departments will be very proud of those and want to promote them, but overall I would say they are the things that I would say matter to the school.
“It is about how they are run and how young people feel a sense of belonging – a sense of worth and identity – so they can feel proud of being a pupil at ESMS.”
While most schools’ traditions hark back to their foundation and are about the joys of embracing Scotland’s rich landscape, other customs are held in solemn commemoration.
At the High School of Dundee, the whole school comes together every year for an Armistice Parade on the Friday before Remembrance Sunday.
Rector Dr John Halliday says: “It is a very powerful event where we parade the whole school outside in the playground with our cadets and pipe band, and we have a very formal Remembrance Sunday service with visitors and parents.
“For me, it is a very moving occasion that the school has and I am very determined to keep it going.”
The school has been working with a local historian since 2014 and the collaborative investigation has unearthed the names of 16 Dundee High boys who were killed during World War I, while another 27 former pupils also served.
The names will be added to the High School of Dundee’s roll of honour this year.
No matter the reason behind a particular school tradition, usually its underlying aim is to bring the pupils, parents and staff together and maintain and reinforce a sense of identity and community.
At Loretto School in Musselburgh, head Dr Graham Hawley cites house “doubles” as a favourite.
He says: “Like many schools, we have assemblies, but we call them doubles and that goes right back to one of the earliest headmasters and they are always introduced by either the head boy or head girl who comes in and says good morning to everyone.
“Everyone replies to them referring to their Christian names and I like the fact that those occasions are quite formal and were started off by our pupils.”
He also points to Songfest, an event held every Autumn where each member of the school takes part in music performances on stage.
Hawley adds: “It is a wonderful celebration of both music and of everyone in the school performing.
“We do that in the first half of term because it helps cement that school community together.”
Of course, school traditions incorporate holidays, and at the Compass School in Haddington, Primary 7 pupils organise an annual Burns supper.
Head Mark Becher explains: “They organise everything from the menu to the entertainment and speeches for the evening. It is a great highlight of the year.”
Another custom Becher is proud of is a leaving ceremony, during which he hands out a silver compass to the school leavers with obvious symbolism for their journey through life.
But while everyone remembers their last day of school, the move into the senior years is just as memorable.
Alex Hems, head of St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh, says: “I know that when the girls leave S4 into S5, that is the point when they leave their school uniform that they have worn for a number of years behind them and move into the school kilt, which is made of a tartan that was made for us. They really look forward to that and they all get measured for their kilts.
“Leavers week is something that the upper school girls get really excited about after their exams and there is a whole array of great activities.
“Then they go off for a lovely trip to the beach with their tutors afterwards and that is a way of celebrating the time we have spent together.”
Some traditions will be based on the principles of founders or past school leaders, while others may draw on a more specific faith or philosophy