St Leonards School

The school is guided by the motto 'Ad Vitam', meaning 'for life', and focuses on preparing pupils for their future through a globally-minded, innovative, and forward-thinking approach. It aims to foster a vibrant community where pupils become lifelong learners who are inquisitive, caring, and resilient. The school emphasizes the development of both academic strengths and weaknesses, encouraging pupils to challenge themselves and adopt a global outlook.

St Leonards is one of the few schools in the UK to offer all four International Baccalaureate (IB) programmes, spanning from Year 1 to Year 13. The curriculum includes the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Junior School, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7-9, and the Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) in the Sixth Form. Subjects offered range from traditional disciplines like Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and Languages (French, German, Spanish, Latin, Chinese, Dutch, Italian, Russian) to the Arts, Design, Economics, Business Management, and Psychology.

St Leonards is an award-winning school, recognized as the Scottish Independent Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence in 2026. Pupils are prepared for success at university, in the world of work, and beyond, with a focus on developing academic strengths, collaborative skills, and a sense of purpose. The school has a strong history of academic and sporting achievement, including producing numerous national-level athletes.

The school provides English language support for non-native speakers, which may incur an additional cost. Learning support is offered at no extra cost for pupils in Years 1 to 6. Pastoral care is a central focus, with dedicated support and wellbeing services available to pupils.

The school offers a supportive admissions process for day and boarding pupils, with main entry points at Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 7, Year 8, Pre-IB, Year 12, and Postgraduate. Prospective families are encouraged to visit the campus for a tour and an informal interview. Applicants for Years 4-13 must complete the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT4), and international students whose first language is not English are required to complete an English language assessment. Applications are accepted throughout the year, subject to availability.

The school operates on a three-term structure: Autumn, Spring, and Summer. Specific term dates are published on the school website.

The historic campus in St Andrews includes science buildings, a library, and a swimming pool. The school provides a dedicated day bus service for pupils and offers boarding accommodation, including the Priorsgate Apartments. Students have access to top-of-the-range training and practice facilities through the school's golf programme.

St Leonards offers a wide range of co-curricular activities, including sports such as lacrosse, hockey, tennis, and cricket, as well as Model United Nations and debating. The school also provides opportunities for outdoor education, school exchanges, and holiday clubs. Pupils in Year 9 participate in an extended community project, and the school maintains a dedicated Golf Academy in partnership with St Andrews Links Golf Academy.