Welcome from the Executive Principal

Fortune favours the brave, they say. Facing the same challenges as all independent schools, Glenalmond College has shown courage and resourcefulness in embracing an opportunity which has resulted in its financial security and longterm stability. The collaboration we have established with 35 Education has heralded an unprecedented surge of positivity and excitement, and we have seized the chance to implement an exciting vision for a radical and innovative education which will genuinely prepare young people for the world ahead.

Many schools talk of their unique environment, but in truth most have little that is genuinely different or special. Pastoral care is, of course, the most important aspect of school life, particularly in a boarding school, and excellence in the nurturing of every child’s gifts, spirit and needs is our foremost aim. But a world utterly changed by artificial intelligence requires a complete recasting of teaching and learning. The examination system is failing our children, particularly GCSEs. Whilst a knowledge-rich curriculum is vital and ‘learning stuff’ is one of the most exciting lifelong activities, without the right skills, attitude and discipline, our pupils will not be independent and effective citizens. The narrowness of the syllabuses and the emphasis on learning for the test with formulaic answers and emphasis on assessment objectives, crushes creativity and enterprise. Our country, our world, need entrepreneurs who can make jobs, not take them. The challenges of climate change and global warming call for brilliant scientists and environmentalists. And the opportunities of technology and AI cry out for designers and inventors.

Who is brave enough to remodel their curriculum? We are at Glenalmond. Ask any parent what they fear for their children, and they will talk about the damaging effects of social media on attention and relationships, the rise in anxiety and depression amongst young people, and the loss of job opportunities for young people. Ask a teenager what they worry about and they will say the destruction of the environment and the shrinking job market. So how do we address these problems? Well, here are two ways we are responding.

First, we provide an environment set in the most glorious location, surrounded by mountains, lochs, forests and rivers. We have established a renowned programme of outdoor education which encourages all pupils to push themselves out of their comfort zone, building resilience and character, teamwork and leadership. Alongside this we are lucky enough to have exceptional sports grounds with unrivalled rugby, football, hockey, cricket and tennis facilities. These outdoor pursuits are essential to develop confidence and courage. To complement these physical challenges, the life
of the spirit and mind is nurtured through the centrality of the chapel with its tradition of communal singing and worship, and a myriad opportunities in music, art, drama and debating.

Second, we are preparing a genuinely creative curriculum, offering pathways to adulthood which provide challenge not only for the academic child, but also for the entrepreneurial dyslexic. For decades our education system has forced children who learn differently to fail. It is a biased structure, rewarding memory not originality. We are determined that all children should feel valued and understood, offering a journey which plays to their strengths rather than destroying their confidence. So we are also considering courses which enable pupils to explore such relevant topics, given
our location, as business enterprise, rural diversification, AI and technology in agriculture, conservation and environmental studies, the science of soil, alternative energy. Already we offer BTECs in Countryside Management, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, and Sport. The opportunities for really exciting and relevant research along both academic and vocational routes are endless, and enable our pupils to see a future for themselves.

So Glenalmond College, an historic institution, founded by Prime Minister William Gladstone in 1868 for boys to ‘escape the sins of the city’, a school infused with traditional values of courtesy, humility and compassion, is becoming one of the most innovative in the land. We are looking for talented, enthusiastic and committed teachers and pupils to join a dynamic and forward-looking community. Thanks to the generosity of our benefactors, we offer a range of scholarships to enable gifts to thrive. And we seek the flourishing of every individual, whatever their role, in our
wonderful school. Floreat Glenalmond!

Lucy Elphinstone, Executive Principal of the Glenalmond Schools Group and Interim Warden

We hope that this website will provide all the information you need about our school. You will find details of our academic programmes, information about our extra-curricular provision and the pastoral care we provide.