Lathallan School

Lathallan School, located on the beautiful Aberdeenshire coastline in the north-east of Scotland, offers excellent opportunities for all young people to develop their full range of talents academically and beyond.

Housed in a Scottish castle, dating from 1867 and set in magnificent 62 acres of grounds, Lathallan School is where pupils have the opportunity to shine and be proud of their own individual achievements.

Further information

Lathallan is small school based in a 19^thcentury castle situated within expansive 60-acre grounds at a unique and stunning North Sea coastal location between Dundee and Aberdeen.

Lathallan is a truly inspiring place. At the heart of a school ethos based around the five core values of confidence, opportunity, respect, endeavour and modesty, is the individual. With average class sizes of just 12 and bespoke timetable options, Lathallan is the perfect place for individuals grow and develop their unique skills and strengths to achieve their full potential.

Outdoor learning is real strength of Lathallan. Teachers make full use of the school’s unique surroundings – which include a treehouse classroom, on-site school farm and two zipwires – to deliver a range of engaging outdoor lessons across all subject areas. As sector leaders in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme with the highest percentage of participation and completion at Bronze, Silver and Gold level, Lathallan offers pupils memorable and challenging expeditions such as a Mount Kilimanjaro trek and a proposed sailing trip off the coast of the school to the Mediterranean.

On the sporting field, Lathallan truly excels with over 20 per cent of the school roll competing at regional or national level at a range of different sports. With two international Scotland rugby players on the current school roll and four national netball titles in 2018 and 2019, Lathallan continues to punch above its’ weight.

Pupils are also given the opportunity to discover hidden talents through our Personal Development Afternoons every Friday, where a wide range of free choice activities from knitting to ski-ing and barista training in our on-site coffee shop are offered to pupils.

With a thriving Lathallan School Pipe Band, a wide range of music tuition and a high percentage of pupils developing their drama skills through LAMDA, Lathallan offers opportunities for pupils to excel in the arts and beyond the classroom. The diversity of these achievements underpin the Lathallan School ethos that we strongly believe that every child deserves to enjoy the success of their individual abilities in whatever field they lie – on the sports field, in the classroom, in the arts, in personal achievement.

Lathallan offers inspiring education, based on the Scottish curriculum which allows pupils to experience a broad education of the highest quality. Lathallan provides places for day pupils, flexi and full-time boarders at an all-through setting that caters for children from the age of six weeks at our Nursery to 18 years at our Senior School. Scottish education has enjoyed an excellent reputation across the world for many years. Highers and Advanced Highers are comparable to A-levels, and are accepted by universities worldwide.

Admissions & Fees

Entry requirements

Lathallan School is non-selective insofar as there are no entrance examinations for potential pupils. Lathallan School feels it is appropriate for the school to consider a prospective pupil’s overall individual skills and achievements, and potential, when considering them for a place, and is in keeping with the Lathallan School ethos.

The admissions process is conducted through the means of a ‘taster day’ where a child attends Lathallan School for the day with their peers. We also request a copy of the child’s most recent report card. Where taster days are not possible, a letter of recommendation from a child’s current Head and a video call interview will be requested.

Lathallan School welcomes prospective families to visit throughout the school year. Please contact the Admissions Office for further details.

Scholarships and Bursaries

Tests for Scholarships, for entry into S1 are held in January and for S5 in March.

Scholarships Awards are available in recognition of a number of abilities i.e. Academic, Sports, Rugby 7s, Netball, Music, Art, Drama, Bagpipes and Marching Drums, and All Rounder. Awards are made after assessment of academic papers. Interviews take place during the pupil’s visit to the school.

Additional references are always encouraged when applying for a Scholarship (from choirmaster, sports coach etc.). Awards can be worth up to 100% of the tuition element of the school fee. Parents may also apply for further financial assistance in the form of a bursary award. Scholarships remain with a pupil throughout their time at Lathallan, provided the criteria continue to be met. (Music scholars, for example, will be expected to maintain tuition and perform in school concerts).  This will be re-assessed annually.

Lathallan is committed towards helping parents of prospective Junior pupils take the first step in an inspired independent education journey and has made it more affordable to pupils entering the school at Junior 1 & Junior 2 level through our Lathallan Pathways scheme which offers annual fees from just £7,950.