St Leonards School
St Leonards School
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
The St Leonards School is located in the historic university town of St Andrews on the east coast of Scotland, just a few minutes’ walk from the sea. As a pure IB school with a highly international student body, it offers a broad curriculum, including less common languages such as Mandarin and Russian. Notable highlights include the well-equipped Art Department, a professional Golf Academy, and a wide range of watersports opportunities in the immediate vicinity.
The Details
The Academics
The St Leonards School in St Andrews is not highly selective and exclusively offers the International Baccalaureate (IB). In 2024, students achieved a solid average score of 34 points — a result notably four points above the global IB average. In addition to the standard IB subjects, courses in Computer Science, Psychology, and Sports Science are offered.
Languages Taught
German, English as a Foreign Language, French, Italian, Latin, Russian and Spanish.
The Boarding
About one third of the student body live in the boarding houses. Thanks to the close integration with day pupils, who share common areas with boarders, the school fosters a very inclusive community atmosphere. Around a year ago, the school invested approximately three million pounds in a comprehensive renovation of the boarding accommodations — with visible success: especially the girls’ houses rank among the best we have seen so far.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
The St Leonards School is located in the heart of the historic university town of St Andrews—an inspiring environment that benefits students through its close proximity to the university. Its seaside location and nearness to some of Scotland’s best golf courses make the school especially attractive to sportively active pupils. Academically, St Leonards is fully committed to the International Baccalaureate: as a dedicated IB school, it boasts many years of experience and deep subject expertise. Here, the IB is not a side offering but a core strength lived out at every level.
The sports program at St Leonards is exceptionally diverse, with a special focus on golf: the school’s own Golf Academy works closely with the St Andrews Golf Club. Watersports like windsurfing, sailing, and kayaking benefit from the direct seaside location. Other offerings include hockey, lacrosse, equestrian, judo, trampolining, tennis, climbing, and winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding.
A real highlight is the spacious and light-filled art department. The studio provides plenty of room for original ideas, supported by dedicated teachers. The students’ artistic work left a strong impression on us.
Weaknesses
The admissions department can sometimes be a bit slow.
Location
St Leonards is located in the small coastal town of St Andrews on Scotland’s east coast, about an hour and a half northeast of Edinburgh. The school is situated in the heart of the historic old town—right next to the university and just a short walk from the beach. Surrounded by ancient city walls, sea views, and golf courses, the location offers a unique blend of history, nature, and academic atmosphere.
A nice school in a perfect location, great for pupils with an interest in golf, the arts and the IB.
St Andews is charming. Make sure to visit the friendly gastro-pubs!
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