Loretto School (Loretto School) - school with golf

• Location: Edinburgh, Scotland,
• Founded: in 1827,
• Students age: 3–18 years,
• General number of students: about 450 people, from the boarding house 250 people,
• Educational programs: middle and high grades, GCSE and A-level,
• Accommodation type: full board (residences on campus),
• Type of studying: mixed, with day and boarding places,
• Language of instruction: English.

• Location: Edinburgh, Scotland,
• Founded: 1827,
• Number of students: about 450,
• Head of school: Pete Richardson,
• Golf Academy coaching team: three full-time PGA professional golf coaches.

Loretto’s educational approach emphasizes the development of mind, body, and spirit. This philosophy was introduced by headmaster Hely Hutchinson Almond.

The school’s A-Level pass rate was 98% in 2025 and 96.3% in 2026. 98% of graduates go on to their destination of choice.

The school with Loretto Golf is a unique opportunity to learn effective, competently designed academic programs and at the same time intensive sports activities, in particular golfing. Here, students from all over the world are offered truly extraordinary, exclusive conditions: the campus has its own Golf Academy, which is considered to be the best in the UK, and the fields and infrastructure of the nearest professional golf clubs are actively used, with which productive and long-standing cooperation has been established. Students constantly participate in national championships and rarely come home without first prizes and championship cups. As coaches are both permanent teachers, and invited well-known instructors of "big sport".

At the same time, we should not think that the students focus exclusively on golf - academic preparation of students is not inferior to students of other boarding schools in Scotland. Loretto graduates continue their studies at the best universities in the UK and the world (for example, the University of California at Berkeley is popular). Among the most successful areas (according to the statistics of the A-level exams) are business, mathematics and higher mathematics, physics - according to the subjects, students regularly receive the highest A * -A scores (60% of graduates).

The main goal of teachers and educators is the comprehensive and harmonious development of students: pupils are brought up with inquisitiveness of mind, curiosity, aspiration for self-development and learning. Such qualities as sincerity, perseverance and purposefulness, kindness and tolerance, and a real desire to help another are also appreciated. The school has a benevolent, warm atmosphere in which children feel safe and comfortable.

Loretto is famous for the creative successes of its charges: more than 70% of students are engaged in creativity and art - music, theater and dramatic art, dance, singing. On the school stage (the institution has its own concert hall for 300 seats), every year about 50 performances are given:

• Performances,
• Musicals,
• Concerts,
• Various shows.

Participants of musical groups constantly participate in national events, festivals, competitions and concerts.

Loretto is rightly proud of its international atmosphere: approximately 20% of all students are foreign students (they represent countries in Africa, the US, Spain, Hong Kong, France and Germany). For them, the special department EAL (English as a foreign language) works: every week there are additional supporting English lessons in mini-groups (3-5 people each).

Sarah Hicklin

Director of International Admissions at Oswestry School

What makes British schools special? Why are they chosen by parents from all over the world for their children?

Schools in the UK continue to be the gold standard of education and offer the highest quality teaching.

• A 1984 graduate and major general in the British Army was appointed Director of Reserves at Army Headquarters in 2020. In 2023, he was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath for his contribution to transforming the Army’s Reserve Forces,
• An alumna is Honorary Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Cambridge. Her prize-winning book Devil-Land: England under Siege 1588-1688 was published in 2021,
• A 2019 graduate made her debut for Scotland’s women’s national rugby team in 2023 and helped it win the inaugural WXV2 competition in Cape Town in October of that year. She plays professionally for Leicester Tigers Women and was nominated for World Rugby Women’s 15s Breakthrough Player of the Year, an award recognizing an emerging talent in women’s rugby,
• In March 2024, a statue of this alumna was unveiled in Edinburgh ahead of her participation in the Women’s Six Nations,
• A Loretto graduate reached the final six on MasterChef: The Professionals in 2023,
• An alumna received the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal at the Royal College of Music and the Garsington Opera Helen Clarke Award. She took part in the Britten Pears Young Artist program in 2021–2022. She graduated from Durham University and the Royal College of Music.

• Loretto is Scotland’s oldest boarding school,
• Red blazers are part of the school uniform,
• Loretto explains its motto as “You were born with talents, nurture them”,
• The Lorettonian Society, an alumni association, was founded in 1947 to help former students stay in touch with one another and the school. Every graduate is invited to join,
• The Lorettonian Society has five regional branches in the UK and overseas and around 4500 members,
• The Lorettonian Society maintains ties with the Old Lorettonian Golfing Society, Fettesian-Lorettonian Club, and Fet-Lor Youth Club,
• The Lorettonian magazine, which carries alumni news, is sent to graduates worldwide each year,
• One alumna recalls that in 1988–1990, coeducation was limited to the final two years of senior school, known as Sixth Form.

Full board accommodation (with three meals a day) in Loretto is available from 8 years. Students are offered places in cozy small houses (each for 50-60 people), and for boys and girls there are separate buildings. Junior students live in common rooms for several people, high school students in double bedrooms, and graduates can count on comfortable private rooms (it is understood that graduates need a private space to concentrate on intensive preparation for difficult final exams).

Subject list: Art, Basics of health protection, biology, business, chemistry, drama, economics, geography, Health & Fitness, Health care, history, Information Technology, maths, music, physical education, physics, politics, theatre studies
Activity list: cricket, downhill skiing, football, golf, lacrosse, netball, rounders, rugby, swimming, tennis, track-and-field athletics

A lot of students like active recreation and are constantly attending sports electives - among the most popular directions are the following:

• Scottish National Dance,
• Climbing,
• Lacrosse,
• Tennis,
• Sailing,
• Track and field athletics,
• Karate,
• Squash,
• Cross country,
• Skiing,
• Golf,
• Badminton,
• Cricket,
• Hockey,
• Shooting,
• Football,
• Basketball,
• Dancing (various styles and directions).

An alumna recalls taking part in the following musical activities during her time at Loretto:

• Choir tours to Spain and Italy,
• SongFest,
• Playing the cello in school musicals,
• Playing Josephine in a production of HMS Pinafore.

An alumnus recalls that the school had a CCF during his time there.

The Loretto campus is located on the outskirts of Edinburgh (the town of Musselburgh) and covers an area of 85 acres (34 hectares). This is a very cozy, beautiful, well-groomed territory: the main building is located in an old majestic mansion, and almost the whole campus is buried in flowers and gardens. There are beautiful shady alleys for walks, lawns and sunny meadows for picnics and outdoor games.

Loretto’s enclosed campus is on the East Lothian coast.

The sports infrastructure is well represented:

• Golf course (except for the neighboring professional golf clubs for optional courses),
• Multifunctional sports hall and fitness halls,
• Badminton courts,
• Volleyball and basketball courts,
• Stadium,
• Tennis courts,
• Cricket field,
• Extensive playing fields and an AstroTurf® field,
• Fives courts,
• Indoor and outdoor golf centers.

The campus has an art center and a dance and drama studio. Science, languages, and computing have dedicated teaching spaces, and the Sixth Form center has been refurbished.

There is also a 300-seat theater on the campus, a music school with a professional recording studio, workshops for photography, sculpture, ceramics and pottery, special crafts for stone work and wood (including the relevant machines and equipment).

There are 32 golf courses in the surrounding area.

Edinburgh is 6 miles (9 km) away. Edinburgh Waverley train station is about a 20-minute drive, and the A1 is a few minutes away by car.

Tuition fees vary depending on the chosen level of studying in Scotland.

The price of the course does not include and is paid separately:

• Registration fee
• Educational deposit
• Roundtrip flights
• Roundtrip transfer
• Personal pocket expenses
• Medical insurance
• Custodianship (as required)
• Consular fees and visa services.

Extras:

• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 100 GBP

Getting to know the school may include a visit and meetings with staff and students.

Loretto students range in age from 3 to 18.

Loretto applicants must submit the following documents to the admission committee:

• Report card for the previous 2 years from the previous educational institution,
• Recommendations from teachers of mathematics and English (if possible from other teachers and class teacher),
• A cover letter on the topic "Why do I want to study at your school?", written by the student,
• All sorts of awards, diplomas, cups and medals, regalia and letters of thanks for achievements in academic, athletic and creative spheres,
• Also, each entrant must pass the test in English and mathematics (can be passed directly at the school or at an accredited center).

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision