Glenalmond College

Since January 2026, Timothy Bayley (who has also been chief executive officer of the Glenalmond Group UK, encompassing both Glenalmond College and Craigclowan School, since October 2025). He brings 25 years of senior leadership experience across UK

Common Entrance is on the wane, apparently, with fewer coming in from the prep route, so the school also tests independently for maths and English. There is no waiting list so entry is fairly straightforward at the moment if you wave a cheque book,

Less than 10 per cent leave after GCSEs, most returning to home countries, notably Germany. Around 40 per cent of sixth formers to Russell Group. Edinburgh most popular, then St Andrews, Exeter, Bath, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Cirencester, Northumbria and

In 2024, 91 per cent A-C at National 5. In 2023, 62 per cent A-B at Higher, 44 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; At A level, 14 per cent A*/A at A level (45 per cent A*-B).

One of the biggest changes recently has been ‘improving academic rigour and ambition’. This has been achieved by introducing the Learning Project – a big name for a radical restructuring of the way the children and the teachers are monitored and

A significant proportion of the school is involved with the learning support department at some level. This ranges from extra time in exams all the way through to a reader and a scribe. There is a policy of free screening for all pupils who enter the

There are ambitious plans to make more of what is a truly fabulous outdoor location which include the possibility of fishing on the river Almond, which flows through the school. DofE enthusiastically pursued, as are clay pigeon shooting, tennis,

There has been a complete restructuring of the sports department so that it functions coeducationally, ie boys’ and girls’ games are given equal billing (rather than the rugger buggers hogging the limelight). Touch rugby has also been introduced for

Girls are being given a bigger slice of the pie and are being ‘promoted’ to the Quad. This is the Oxbridge-style area at the heart of the school, traditionally the site of three boys’ houses. Now one of them, Goodacres, has been made over to girls.

‘How many schools have a front and back avenue, Mum?’ Well, probably more than we realise, but it does emphasise the sheer grandeur of the place both in architectural and scenic terms. Going down the drive on a warm summer’s day (they do happen,

The school has appointed a deputy head of pastoral care who oversees the eight housemasters/mistresses and there is far more exchanging of information so that nobody slips through the net. House staff and teachers meet weekly to discuss pupils,

A high 70 per cent are UK boarders. The school has traditionally been the ‘county’ choice, or ‘tweed central’, as some have dubbed it, with so many from surrounding Perthshire, Angus, Fife and Aberdeenshire, and the other 30 per cent are

They stress they don’t buy in talent, so no 100 per cent scholarships for the rugby gorillas, but they do support four pupils every year on a bursary basis of 90 to 100 per cent. This isn’t based purely on academic potential, but if there is a child

Get in fast, Glenalmond is on the up and up. If they can continue to combine academic rigour and making use of their spectacular setting then Glenalmond is set for a cracking future over the next few years.