Loretto School
Loretto School is a co-ed boarding and day school in East, Lothian, educating pupils aged 3 - 18 and founded in 1827. Boarding fees are £13,460 - £16,544 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Co-ed boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 11 - 18
- Ethos
- Non-denominational
- Guardian required
- Yes
About Loretto
The story, ethos and character of Loretto.
- Setting
- Town
- Ethos
- Non-denominational
- Head
- Mr Pete Richardson
More Than Education At Loretto, our commitment is to your child to create their exceptional life, whatever that means for them. As Scotland's oldest boarding school, we deliver a rounded curriculum in all of the ways you might expect - through our diverse curriculum, expansive extracurricular programme, and outstanding facilities.
However, what sets Loretto apart is our -knit community. Loretto is a where relationships between staff, pupils, and parents flourish, where every child is known and nurtured, and where your child will find both the inspiration and encouragement they need to discover their unique talents and passions.
At Loretto, the British examination system of GCSEs, A Levels, and BTECs is followed, with cohorts consistently achieving excellent results.
Life after Loretto is bright, with leavers moving on to exciting and varied pathways after school. Beyond the classroom, an extracurricular programme of over 70 activities - ranging from astrophysics to psychopathology - enables pupils to expand their horizons, develop and discover talents, and enhance their skills for life.
Lorettonians also benefit from a comprehensive sports programme, which includes access to the first Golf Academy established within an independent school. The Loretto Golf Academy continues to set the standard for excellence in golf education, offering three distinct training programmes, catering to enthusiastic beginners to aspiring professionals.
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Academics at Loretto
What pupils study at Loretto — and where it takes them.
and are ambitious for their pupils to succeed. The core curriculum is supported by a wide range of academic and cultural activities, including lectures, debates and exhibitions. Academic Societies and Clubs stimulate interest and help to develop a true love of learning.
Loretto also adopts a personal approach to tutoring. Pupils are supported throughout their educational journey, and tutors take a keen interest in each child's aspirations, achievements and progress. Sixth Formers are offered advice and to make the transition to A-level, select the right university and career.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
Lorettonians leave for future pathways that are as exciting and diverse as they are! They are real-world ready, compassionate and curious.
Most go on to university, though some prefer to expand their horizons with a gap year first. Every year, some Lorettonians prefer to move into the world of work, either directly or via apprenticeship experiences.
Whatever pathway they choose, they love to stay in touch and are welcomed back to share their wisdom with current pupils. The Class of 2024 went on to Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee, St Andrew's Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Galashiels, Newcastle, Durham, Belfast, Lancaster, Manchester, Liverpool, Loughborough, Warwick, Gloucester, Oxford, Cardiff, Woking, Exeter and Plymouth.
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at Loretto
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at Loretto.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 2, Boys 2, Mixed 1
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- Yes
Boarding at our school A small school, big on heart The first thing you notice when you enter our campus is the warmth, energy and positivity, of both pupils and staff. The relationships between them are marked by kindness, care and respect.
At Loretto, pupils become an integral part of our family, where they are given outstanding opportunities to grow and prepare for a fulfilling life. Being a small school, with a superb staff to pupil ratio (1:7), enables us to know every child, unveil and nurture their talent.
Loretto has five boarding houses. Two boys' boarding houses - Hope and Pinkie (Years 11-13) - and two girls' boarding houses - Holm and Balcarres (Years 11-13). There is also a mixed junior boarding house, Schoolhouse, for pupils in Years 7-10.
Pinkie House - Fifth and Sixth Form boarding boys (Year 11-13) (Boys) Our most iconic building, dating back over 500 years. This building housed the first King Charles VI of Scotland when he was a boy, who went on to be King Charles I of England, hence one of our double rooms is called the 'King's Rooms'.
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
Loretto admissions
How children join Loretto, 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
Our minimum length of stay is 2 terms for Year 10 and younger Our minimum length of stay is 1.5 terms for Year 11,12 and 13 Special notes to agents about entry to the school At Loretto, we strive to make Admissions an easy & pleasant experience for both prospective parents and pupils.
Applications are accepted for entry into all year . Our Admissions procedure aims to ensure that girls and boys who join Loretto are able to be happy, successful and secure within its academic, cultural and pastoral environment, whether they are boarders or day pupils.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
Loretto fees & funding
What Loretto 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 Loretto.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare Loretto against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
Loretto location & travel
Where Loretto is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address Linkfield Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 7RE, Scotland Airport transfer 35 minutes to Edinburgh Airport Travel time to London by train Longer than 3 hours Telephone +44 (0)131 653 4455 Website https://www. loretto.
com/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Edinburgh 16 25 2. Glasgow 62 59 Most convenient train stations Station Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1. Wallyford 2 5 2. Edinburgh 10 20 Local accommodation Hotels Bed and breakfasts The Scotsman *****20 North Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1YTTel: 0131 5565565reservations@thescotsmanhotel.
Loretto — frequently asked questions
Where is Loretto?
How much are Loretto boarding fees?
What ages does Loretto take?
Is Loretto co-educational?
When was Loretto founded?
Does Loretto require a UK guardian?
How many pupils study A-levels at Loretto?
What qualifications does Loretto offer?
Does Loretto support SEN or EAL students?
How many boarding houses does Loretto have?
Are there compulsory exeat weekends at Loretto?
Does Loretto have Saturday lessons?
How do I apply to Loretto?
Does Loretto accept international students?
How much does Loretto cost?
What's included in Loretto's fees?
Are scholarships or bursaries available?
Where exactly is Loretto?
Considering Loretto for your child?
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Ask us about Loretto