Few boarding schools in the UK have such a high proportion of boarders as Glenalmond College. Here, students can enjoy warmth, camaraderie, and an outstanding British education in a breathtaking setting.
Nestled near the medieval Scottish town of Perth, Glenalmond College lives up to its reputation as an elite boarding school on every level. The sight of its listed buildings is nothing short of spectacular. Spanning an incredible 300 acres of parkland, woodland, and open countryside in the Scottish Highlands, the campus offers a magical backdrop where salmon leap in the rivers and outdoor adventurers can immerse themselves in fishing, kayaking, and golf.
Over 80 per cent of students live on campus, and with such a large boarding community it’s no surprise the school feels like one big family. Almost all staff live on site too, fostering particularly close — indeed friendly — relationships between teachers and pupils. Whether artist, scientist, or athlete, Glenalmond gives every student the chance to achieve something extraordinary.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Age range: 12-18 Years Total students: 370
Boarding students: 80%
Students in Sixth Form 127
International students: 35%
Average Sixth Form class size: 11
Boarding fees per term (Sixth Form): £ 18,125
Key sports in addition to traditional team sports: Dance, swimming, horse riding, triathlon, sailing, mountaineering, skiing, fencing, shooting, canoeing, golf, rugby, tennis
Nearest airports: Edinburgh (1 hour), Glasgow (75 minutes)
https://www.glenalmondcollege.co.uk
Key strengths at a glance
rural location
wide range of outdoor activities
high proportion of boarders
friendly atmosphere
Glenalmond College – Photo Highlights
Glenalmond College in detail
Sport and Outdoor Life
For lovers of the outdoors, Glenalmond offers countless opportunities to explore nature — whether climbing, hiking, or sailing. Located in rural Perthshire, the school also benefits from the area’s excellent equestrian facilities. But that’s just the beginning: mountain biking, canoeing, and kayaking are also on the menu.
We’re particularly impressed by the school’s sports programme. Tennis is especially popular here, with 18 artificial grass courts and two newly refurbished hard courts. Glenalmond also boasts a water-based hockey pitch, a new golf centre, and a top-class swimming pool.
Academic Excellence
Glenalmond prepares students for university across more than 25 academic subjects. Strong academic results combine with a holistic approach make it a leader in A-level outcomes: in 2021, 61% of students achieved top A*-A grades. The curriculum is broad, covering sciences, geography, computing, and art, as well as languages such as French and Spanish. Glenalmond also offers less common languages, including Mandarin and Latin. With its emphasis on internationalism, the school has developed a particularly strong English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme.
Creative Arts
We’re impressed by the vibrant creative offerings at Glenalmond. The music department includes an elegant concert hall and its own recording studio, giving every student the chance to explore their musical side. One-to-one tuition is, of course, available, and students can join a variety of ensembles or the chapel choir. The school also stages an annual play and participates every two years in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Art and design students exhibit their own work in the school and take part in creative workshops.
Co-curricular and Leisure
It would be impossible for one student to take advantage of everything Glenalmond has to offer outside the classroom. There’s theatre, debating, language clubs, and much more. Few schools in Britain can boast their own fishing on a nearby river — Glenalmond can. Skiing is also popular, and adventurous students can try their hand at clay pigeon shooting. Beyond water sports, students can take part in yoga, Zumba, triathlon, or strength and endurance training. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the Combined Cadet Force offer even more outdoor adventure and leadership opportunities.
Fees
Fees at Glenalmond College are £18,125 per term, or £54,375 per academic year..
This ist Glenalmond
Photos from our visits
What our clients say about us
Get a free consultation and find out more about Glenalmond College
Conclusion
Glenalmond College is a Scottish boarding school offering a rich array of outdoor activities. However, it is far from the only school in Scotland with extraordinary outdoor opportunities. We encourage you to explore other English boarding schools as well.
We’d be delighted to advise you personally. Thanks to years of close contact with these schools, we know their unique characteristics and can offer authentic insight.
We are confident we can help you find the right boarding school for your child.
On our Boarding Schools in England page you’ll find:
- authentic first-hand impressions from our visit in May 2022
- our good relationships with the admissions office
- many years’ experience in student placement
- support with visa questions
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within the German school system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
