Lomond School stands out for many reasons. It is a non-selective, day school with boarding that is located in the coastal town of Helensburgh, near Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.
Students are surrounded by beautiful countryside and are a short distance away from the cities of Glasgow and Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh.
In other words, it’s hard to find a more idyllic place to study.
Parents who are looking for a school that not only nurtures their child’s passion for learning but also provides them with a supportive environment may want to consider enrolling here.
The school offers students between the ages of 3 and 18 a perfectly balanced education and welcomes families from all corners of the globe. Educators here have experience integrating new students at any stage of their schooling, thanks to the school’s small class sizes and the flexible and personalised approach to learning.
Proven academic prowess
Lomond School follows the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) curriculum, which is similar to the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in that it provides a holistic education and offers pupils a wide range of choices throughout their academic journey. Pupils study Highers over one year in Senior 5 (Year 12) and can choose to specialise in their final year by taking Advanced Highers which provide excellent preparation for university. The curriculum is recognised and accepted by universities across the world with Lomond students choose to study at top universities in Scotland and further afield, with recent graduates gaining places at Cambridge, McGill and the University of Amsterdam.
The school provides small classes that allow students to be known and recognised as individuals. Each student receives a personalised education that helps them to reach their full potential.
Student Clara Pankau from Germany said: “I got to choose my subjects and love the learning style here. My teachers are so supportive.”
With these approaches, it should come as no surprise that Lomond School students have an excellent track record of academic attainment.
Despite being non-selective, the school has over 90 percent pass rate at National 5 and Higher, far exceeding the local and national average. They also set two new records with a 96 percent pass rate at National 5 and with almost 90 percent of all National 5 passes at A or B grade. (2019 results)
A unique schooling environment
Unlike many independent schools where students are based in a remote campus, students of Lomond School have access to a wide range of amenities outside the school to develop their personal interests.
Helensburgh has a swimming pool, golf course, tennis club and sailing marina, in addition to restaurants and a cinema, among others, for pupils to enjoy a lifestyle where a culture of hard work is complemented by a sense of fun and adventure. The school is also located within easy reach of Glasgow International Airport.
Meanwhile, on campus, Lomond School’s well-resourced boarding house, Burnbrae, allows boarders to enjoy an enriching experience with plenty of opportunities to get to know and build connections with other boarders.
Burnbrae encapsulates its ethos of family living in a modern, safe and friendly environment. Both staff and students of different ages and backgrounds live, work, eat and socialise together in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Its small capacity for 60 means students enjoy a home away from home feel while its co-ed boarding enables siblings to live together, as they would at home.
Burnbrae’s facilities are also top notch. They offer single or twin bedrooms with en-suites and dorm rooms for the younger boarders. There are also common rooms for students to socialise and relax in, in addition to a well-equipped gym, gardens and astro turf pitch.
“We have all sorts of activities in the boarding house, and the house parents keep us busy. We normally go on trips, and we play football outside on the astro turf and basketball in the sports hall. It’s just exciting and fun,” said student Safwan Sadi, originally from Bangladesh.
A holistic experience
Life as a boarder in Lomond School is never dull – weekends are always packed with a smorgasbord of fun and new adventures. Students can take part in Saturday morning sports matches, play a key role in traditional school events and enjoy cultural trips and outdoor activities throughout the term.
Students here develop close links with the school and town community. It is in a safe location that is walking distance from the boarding house and being a day school as well, boarders get to develop strong links with the school’s community. Many of their friends are day pupils, which provides them with a platform to socialise outside of the boarding house.
A high percentage of students also participate in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), in which students can access opportunities to gain skills for work and life, as well as to improve their physical fitness.
The programme is run in-house and is led by their teaching staff, which has contributed to its high success rates at the Gold level.
From a great location to its personalised teaching and boarding experience, it’s clear that Lomond School has much to offer and will serve as a transformational experience for all students.
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