News and Forthcoming Events
Life at Glenalmond is always busy, and this is where you will find all the latest news, galleries and notification of forthcoming events.
Click on any heading to see the full story, or further information on the event. Choose one of the headings on the left to filter the stories shown, or use the Search box on the left to look for news stories or galleries relating to a particular topic.
A former Glenalmond College pupil, who recently set five world records while rowing across one of the most treacherous stretches of water on the planet, is set to share his incredible story at an open day at his old school next month.
Jamie Douglas-Hamilton, who is also founder of ACTIPH Water, is set to inspire visitors with a talk about his adventures on the open sea at a Glenalmond Open Day on Saturday, March 14th.
Jamie was a member of a team of six who conquered the notorious Drake Passage, a 750-mile stretch of ocean connecting Cape Horn in Chile with Antarctica. For the first time in history, they successfully navigated the world’s most dangerous ocean in just a rowing boat.
Glenalmond pupils and staff gave former pupil, Rob Wainwright, a memorable send-off when he visited the school today this week ahead of his gruelling charity cycle.
Not only are the pupils sending their best wishes and moral support to Rob, a former captain of Scotland’s rugby team and British and Irish Lions player, they will also be joining him “in spirit” via Glenalmond’s own 24-hour cycling fundraiser.
A team of pupils from Glenalmond College in Perthshire were this week delighted to receive the news that they are through to the semi-finals of a prestigious national investment competition. The pupils, Kyle Maddox, Hamza Ramsan and Djordje Bojanic, were selected as semi-finalists from 9215 teams who entered the “Student Investor Challenge” run by the London Institute of Banking and Finance. Glenalmond Business Management teacher, Lisa Greenwell, a former pupil of Glenalmond College, said they were over the moon to have been short-listed from such a large entry.
Glenalmond College is offering two new scholarships as part of our celebrations of a very special year in our history.
A new scholarship, named after former Warden Elaine Logan, Glenalmond’s first female head, is being offered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of having girls at Glenalmond.
To mark this special year for the school, which traces its roots back to 1847, two “Elaine Logan Scholarships” will be offered to boys and girls to assist them to benefit from a Glenalmond education.
A new Golf Scholarship will also be offered in 2020 to mark the centenary of our school’s nine-hole golf course, located in Glenalmond’s 320 acres of grounds. The course was designed by James Braid, who was behind many famous courses around the world.
Staff and pupils at Glenalmond College in Perthshire are celebrating the start of 2020 with a raft of exceptional academic achievements.
During the past week two pupils have been offered conditional places at Oxford University and an outstanding 78% of final year pupils have received A*- B grades in their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) results.
An unprecedented 30% of the year group participated in the EPQ, of which 78% received A*-B grades, including six who received A* grades.
Glenalmond College has announced that Niall Booker will continue for a second, three-year term as Chairman of its Governing Council.
Two new members of the Council have also been announced, with the appointment of David Fox-Pitt MBE and Christopher Reynolds.
A ban on mobile phones, and other devices, introduced by Glenalmond College just
over a year ago, is delivering a raft of major benefits.
Pupils at the leading independent school in Perthshire, have benefitted from
increased social interaction and improved ability to focus on school work, during their
first year in a phone-free learning environment.
These benefits are underpinned by the findings of a new Education Scotland report
on Glenalmond, published this month following a visit by HMI inspectors to the
school in November. The outstandingly positive report highlights the good manners
and courteous behaviour of pupils and their clearly-articulated pride in their school,
as well as their exceptional academic performance.
A Glenalmond College minibus driver has this week stepped down from behind the wheel, after two decades of transporting pupils to and from the leading Perthshire independent school.
Willie Simpson, who is also a well-known local farmer and breeder of prize-winning Highland ponies, is retiring from his driving duties. However, he still intends to keep playing at events, including Glenalmond ceilidhs, with his renowned Scottish country dance band.
Glenalmond College has a fleet of liveried vehicles which provide a free transport service for families with children attending the school. The routes covered by Willie and his fellow drivers range from as far afield as Aberfeldy, Auchterarder, Rait, Bridge of Earn, Dunning and Crieff. New bus routes to meet local demand, including Burrelton and Glenfarg, are planned for next year.
Glenalmond College has welcomed a glowing report from Education Scotland inspectors following their recent visit.
Among the highlights of the education which Glenalmond provides, the inspectors praised the “high-performing school” with excellent academic results and a clear commitment to maximising the individual potential of young people.
Hugh Ouston, Head of Glenalmond College, described the report as “overwhelmingly positive”, saying this was a reflection of the excellent standard of learning and teaching and the 100% commitment of all staff at the school.
“The report pinpoints many strengths which we believe set a Glenalmond education apart,” said Mr Ouston.
“Everyone in our close school community will be delighted to see this endorsement of our school’s commitment to an exceptional learning experience, academically and beyond the classroom, and of our dedication to consistent self-improvement.”
Two former Glenalmond College pupils have recently passed out at Sandhurst, having completed an eight-week officer training course, after being selected for a much-sought after Gap Year Commission.
Ben Humphries and Gregor Cochrane, who both left Glenalmond this summer, were selected, while they were still at school, from around 500 applicants.
The Glenalmond pair were among only ten to be selected for the Commissions, following a rigorous selection process. They are now doing a further short course before joining their respective regiments this month.
One of the highlights of the year at Glenalmond College is the Candlelit Service which is traditionally held at the end of term.
It is incredibly hard to put into words what makes our end of term Candlelit Service so special.
These photographs, taken at Chapel this evening, go some way to conveying the ethereal atmosphere which makes this service one of the standout events in our school calendar for pupils, parents and staff.
Thanks to all involved - what a way to end our term.
A Perthshire school is celebrating the exceptional range of wildlife to be found on its grounds in the pages of a 2020 calendar, being sold in aid of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
The calendar features a dozen stunning wildlife images taken by local photographer, Rosanna Forbes. All of the profits from sales of the calendar will be donated to the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Glenalmond College is now Perthshire Minis’ Official Partner, cementing the existing strong relationship and long-held rugby connections between the club and the school.
The construction of a range of new, state-of-the-art sports facilities at Glenalmond College is one of the highlights of a recent multi-million pound programme of investment at the school.
Almost £2 million pounds of investment has been undertaken over the past two years, as part of an ambitious, on-going programme to grow the leading Perthshire school, which combines academic excellence with an all-round education.
A West Highland Terrier named Lottie has been offering support to Glenalmond College pupils and joining in with rehearsals for the school’s senior musical “Anything Goes” which will be staged at the end of this month.
The friendly terrier has been enjoying accompanying her owner, Glenalmond’s Musical Director Tim Ridley, and the 34-strong cast during rehearsals and appears keen to be considered for the canine role of “Cheeky” in the fast-paced musical production.
The musical, which features Classic Cole Porter songs such as "Anything Goes," "You're the Top," and "I Get a Kick Out of You", will be performed in the theatre at Glenalmond over four nights from November 28th to December 1, at 7.30pm.
Pupils from Glenalmond College in Perthshire have been entering into the
spirit of the Great Scottish Squirrel Survey and counting red squirrels as
part of the national initiative.
Scotland is home to 75% of Britain’s red squirrels and the staff and pupils
of Glenalmond College are proud that the school’s 300 acres of grounds are home to a thriving population of the endangered species.
Around 100 pupils from junior schools around Scotland and the north of England will be uniting at Glenalmond College for its annual Choral Day celebration of song next Sunday, October 13th.
The pupils from schools including Mowden Hall (Northumberland), Ardvreck (Crieff), Cargilfield (Edinburgh) and Belhaven Hill (Dunbar) will be gathering at Glenalmond for a day of singing as well as a range of fun activities.
The day culminates with a Choral Day Service in Glenalmond Chapel, from 5.30pm to 6.30pm, to which the families and friends of pupils, along with members of the local community, are invited.
Fifty primary school children this week united in Perthshire to take part in the inaugural Glenalmond 1847 challenge, successfully tackling 18 activities in 47 hours.
The wide-ranging activities the pupils were challenged with on the grounds at Glenalmond, ranged from kayak polo and making pots in a fire pit to building bug hotels and playing different musical instruments.
One major highlight, however, was the opportunity to abseil down the flag tower located over the Front Arch which forms the main entrance to Glenalmond.
Staff in the grounds team at Glenalmond College are making their final preparations for the school’s Open Day next week, which looks set to host a record number of visitors.
The team, which looks after the school’s extensive grounds totalling more than 300 acres, is determined to ensure the school looks its very best for what promises to be one of the best-attended Open Days it has hosted for many years.
Work is now underway to create a brand new indoor golf facility as part of Glenalmond College’s new Golf School, ahead of the centenary of Glenalmond Golf Course next year, and pupils from local primary schools will be invited to get involved.
The new facility is being 100% funded by former Glenalmond pupils keen to support the school as it ramps up its golf offer. It is being built by local construction firm, Algo Ltd, and will see the creation of an indoor facility which will host two full simulation bays featuring the latest ball flight technology.
The work, which will also see the creation of a six-hole indoor putting green, is part of a substantial project to increase the school’s profile as a centre of excellence for golf.