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Boarding schools in Scotland

Boarding schools in Scotland welcome young people from around the world and also attract pupils from the United Kingdom whose parents frequently move location due to work commitments.

Scotland as a destination for overseas pupils  

Scotland has much to offer pupils from around the world who want to be educated in an English-speaking European country with good transport links. A small country, Scotland is safe, friendly and welcoming and enjoys a pleasant climate. Quality of life is good - Scotland offers a stunning landscape and also vibrant, modern cities that have a rich cultural heritage. Scotland and its people have made many significant contributions to humanity, including inventions that have changed the modern world. The telephone, radar, television, penicillin, mammal cloning, bicycles, and ‘keyhole' surgery, are all examples of Scottish innovation. And the Scottish education system is respected all around the world. 

Scottish boarding schools offer a high quality education within safe and secure surroundings. Great importance is attached to the creation of a community in which children can settle easily, make firm friendships and feel at home. Pastoral care is excellent and pupils enjoy a wide variety of outdoor pursuits that are part of the wider school curriculum. Exam results are consistently good, year after year. International students are attracted to Scotland from countries all around the world although the highest numbers currently come from Germany, Hong Kong, China, Russia, Spain and the United States of America. Links are provided, on the right, to various Scottish tourism websites.  

Transport links around the world 

Transport links are excellent with International airports in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Over 40 airlines fly direct to Edinburgh International Airport from more than 100 destinations worldwide. Direct flights to Glasgow International Airport come from 90 destinations. Around 9 million passengers pass through Edinburgh airport each year and 7 million through Glasgow. Glasgow International Airport is regarded as the principal long-haul airport in Scotland with year-round flights to Canada, the United States and the Gulf. Other Scottish airports are located in Aberdeen, Prestwick, Inverness and Dundee. Another option is to fly to London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester or Newcastle and get a connecting, internal flight to Scotland. Amsterdam Schiphol is also very convenient and provides onward connections to cities all around the world. The links, above, show the destination routes for the two principal International airports in Scotland.  

Qualifications recognised for entry to university around the world

Some Scottish boarding schools follow the Scottish curriculum where pupils sit Standard Grade exams at age 15/16, Highers at age 16/17 and Advanced Highers at age 17/18. Scottish qualifications, which are recognised for university entry all over the world, include academic and vocational subjects that provide both breadth and depth of study. Typically, students will take 5 Highers (compared with 3 A levels in the English system) which means that they have a broader education before specialising in their final year at school. Advanced Highers are widely respected as a robust qualification. In Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) is responsible to administering the public exam system. A growing number of overseas organisations now offer SQA qualifications. Other countries use SQA's standards as a benchmark for developing their own systems and qualifications. SQA has a strong track record for sharing its expertise with governments, and partners to support the development of education and training internationally.

Other Scottish boarding schools choose to follow the English curriculum where pupils sit GCSE exams at age 15/16, AS level at 16/17 and A2 level at age 17/18. Unlike in Scotland, the English exam system is administered by a number of different exam boards. The Scottish and English qualifications are broadly equivalent - both equip students for life beyond school and both are recognised for entry to university around the world.

A third option, now available at two Scottish boarding schools, is the International Baccalaureate, designed to develop a broad range of skills. Students take 6 subjects for 2 years - English, Maths, Science, a language (ancient or modern) and a social subject. They follow a course of study in the Theory of Knowledge, undertake a programme of Creativity, Action and Service and write a 4000 word essay on a subject of their choice.