South African vs UK Boarding School
Boarding School Life, Education Systems, School Admissions
Comparing South Africa with the UK: Why is the British Boarding School system better for my child? One of the most important decisions a parent
Academic Families works with more than 450 schools throughout the UK, and we have become experts at matching children to the right boarding school for them in order to ensure each student thrives.
We're delighted to present one of our partner schools:
Strathallan School in Perthshire, Scotland.
"Our mission is to provide an outstanding education, academic, social and extra-curricular, which gives opportunities for all pupils to excel, developing their abilities to benefit themselves and others."
Strathallan offers 24 subject choices – making it one of the broadest curriculums in Scotland. The school is unique, being the first in Scotland to offer pathways including full Highers and Advanced Highers alongside full GCSE and A Levels. This allows flexibility and the opportunity for students to undertake the exams that suit them best. The facilities at Strathallan are excellent, such as their purpose-built department for design and technology. Strathallan is part of the prestigious Arkwright Scholarship scheme which supports highly talented design and technology pupils to succeed.
The school produces impressive exam results too with 67% of students studying A Level achieving A* - A grades in 2021.
Sport is an important aspect of life at Strathallan, with many elite pupils competing at national and international levels. The school’s sports development programme provides a nurturing environment for students to reach their full potential, supported by expert coaches and partnerships with professional bodies such as Scottish Rugby and Scottish Hockey. Strathallan School runs centres of excellence in a number of sports, including rugby and swimming. These go above and beyond the general sports programme and offer students professional training. Regardless of ability and experience, there are opportunities for students to take part in a range of sports.
Creative pupils can also access extra-curricular activities to develop their interests and skills. Over 25 music groups of different styles rehearse every week, and students can get involved in extra drama classes and make use of the school’s performing spaces. Furthermore, Strathallan has a newly-built drama and dance studio. Dancers are taught by a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) qualified teacher and pupils can pursue lessons in a great variety of dancing styles - from jazz to commercial to highland dance.
Strathallan School welcomes students from over 28 countries. The mix of nationalities and cultures allows students to establish meaningful and lasting connections with other students from all around the world. Strathallan understands that the reason some international students struggle at A Level is due to struggling with English language skills. To help overseas pupils succeed at A Level, Strathallan offers an A Level Preparation Course (APC) which is also available online.
Strathallan ensures all pupils are involved with school life. Around 60% of Strathallan students are boarders and there is a real sense of community on campus, created by staff who live on-site and a busy schedule with planned weekend activities. Day pupils are also assigned to houses, encouraging boarders and non-boarders to mix. The campus is home to seven Senior School boarding houses, each with its own unique character. Students will be supported by a Houseparent, matron, house tutors and a domestic team who all prioritise student wellbeing.
You'll probably have many questions about the exciting times that lie ahead. We are here to reassure you and support your decision to educate your child in the UK.
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