Dollar Academy
Dollar Academy is a co-ed boarding and day school in Dollar, Clackmannanshire, educating pupils aged 5 - 18 and founded in 1818. Boarding fees are £14,220 - £15,954 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 10 - 18
- Ethos
- Non-denominational
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Dollar Academy
The story, ethos and character of Dollar Academy.
- Setting
- Village
- Ethos
- Non-denominational
Dollar Academy is an all-through school which accepts boarders from the age of ten. This is an HMC school and as such has been recognized for the strength of its academic performance and its excellence in pastoral care, co-curricular provision and classroom teaching.
It is a successful school filled with happy and very active children. Dollar Academy are one of the only British boarding schools to offer the Scottish SQA exam system. This system places emphasis on breadth of learning, with more subjects studied to a higher level, and is very flexible, with students sitting five 'Higher' exams at the end of Year 12 which will grant them access to universities across the UK and internationally - therefore allowing students to apply to university one year early.
If students choose to stay on for Year 13 (which most do), they can choose to study more Highers or specialise further by studying subjects at Advanced Higher level, to suit their university applications and personal preferences.
Dollar offers the widest range of examination subjects in Scotland, with students choosing from 35 Higher subjects and 28 Advanced Highers. There is a helpful diagram in our Prospectus section that illustrates how the Scottish Education system works at each stage.
An education at Dollar prepares pupils for any university in the world and students leave Dollar each year for Oxford & Cambridge and Ivy League Colleges in the US (Stanford in 2021, Harvard in 2022 and Columbia in 2024). An average of 60% leavers go to Russell Group universities, with Medicine, Law, Economics & Engineering being the most popular degree choices.
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Academics at Dollar Academy
What pupils study at Dollar Academy — and where it takes them.
is studied until the age of 16, before specialisation in 3-5 subjects. The SQA Advanced Higher qualification is highly regarded internationally, with an A being equivalent to an A* at A-level. Dollar's super-curriculum is much more varied and modern than you might expect and a wider range of SQA examination subjects is available than at any other school in Scotland.
In Form VI, optional modules run in subjects as diverse as Microbiology, Astronomy, Philosophy and Italian, to mention just a few. Pupils lower down the school also benefit from this breadth and subjects such as coding, robotics, debating, cooking and classics are taken by all.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
An education at Dollar prepares pupils for any University in the world: • Oxford & Cambridge and top US Colleges (Stanford in 2021, Harvard in 2022, NYU in 2023, Columbia in 2024 and Berkeley in 2025) • 56% of 2025 Leavers went to Russell Group universities • Edinburgh, St Andrews & Glasgow Universities are Top 3 destinations most years • Medicine, Law, Economics & Engineering are most popular degree choices Our list of the university destinations of our leavers is particularly impressive and can be found here - https://dollaracademy. org. uk/after-dollar/
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Dollar Academy
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Dollar Academy.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 2, Boys 2, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- No
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- No
As the world's oldest coeducational day and boarding school, boarding has always been a key feature of life at Dollar and the Care Inspectorate has described the school as having a 'sector-leading' standard of care for its boarders. The focus is very much on creating a home-from-home environment with boys and girls living in small family-style boarding houses located on Dollar's stunning 70-acre campus at the foot of the Ochil Hills.
Tutors help with homework and excellent social, sport and leisure facilities are available for pupils to use. One great advantage of boarding at Dollar is that there are several hundred day pupils living locally, so boarders have a wide circle of friends, both in and out of the boarding house.
A genuine home away from home
Boarding at Dollar Academy looks and feels different to many other schools. Our boarders live in period houses that balance traditional charm with modern comfort and style, providing welcoming bedrooms, stimulating work spaces and contemporary social rooms.
Moreover, our boarding houses are run by Houseparents who absolutely view the young people in their care as an extension of their own family. They keep a watchful eye over the academic and pastoral development of every pupil in their house, supported by Assistant Houseparents, house tutors and a team of pastoral specialists.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Dollar Academy admissions
How children join Dollar Academy, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Short term stays for pupils in Year 10 or below are dependent on availability. They tend to take in our 9 week summer term, which runs straight through from April to the end of June with no mid-term break or exeats. Special notes to agents about entry to the school A short video explaining our Admissions Process can be found here - https://vimeo.
com/508906033 Dollar Academy has an Admissions Department with a single point of contact for applicants and agents. This school accepts applications from new pupils at any time of the year and entrance is based on an interview with the Head.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Dollar Academy fees & funding
What Dollar Academy costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for Dollar Academy.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Dollar Academy against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Dollar Academy location & travel
Where Dollar Academy is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Dollar Academy, Dollar, Clackmannanshire, FK14 7DU, Scotland Airport transfer Airport taxi transfers arranged Travel time to London by train Longer than 3 hours Telephone 01259 742511 Website https://dollaracademy. org.
uk/ +7 photos Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Edinburgh 33 40 2. Glasgow 50 50 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Alloa 7 15 2. Stirling 12 24 3. Gleneagles 13 23 Local accommodation There are no hotels in the village of Dollar, however a number of luxury apartments are available to rent for short stays.
Inside Dollar Academy
Dollar Academy — frequently asked questions
Where is Dollar Academy?
How much are Dollar Academy boarding fees?
What ages does Dollar Academy take?
Is Dollar Academy co-educational?
When was Dollar Academy founded?
Does Dollar Academy require a UK guardian?
How many pupils study A-levels at Dollar Academy?
What qualifications does Dollar Academy offer?
Does Dollar Academy support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does Dollar Academy have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Dollar Academy?
Does Dollar Academy have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to Dollar Academy?
Does Dollar Academy accept international students?
How much does Dollar Academy cost?
What's included in Dollar Academy's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Dollar Academy?
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