Academic excellence meets diversity. St Leonard’s is a small, personal boarding school set against an almost picture-perfect historic backdrop. As the only school in Scotland to offer only the International Baccalaureate, it stands out — not least for its outstanding golf opportunities.
Located on Scotland’s east coast, housed in the walls of a medieval monastery, St Leonard’s proudly ranks among the country’s top schools. Just beyond its gates lies the prestigious university town of St Andrews, with its famous beaches stretching beyond.
The school’s motto is “Ad Vitam – For Life”, reflecting its aim to create a close-knit community where every student acquires the skills and builds the network needed for life beyond school. As Scotland’s only all-IB school, it combines this focus with an impressive breadth of sport and music — and is particularly renowned for golf.
And, as a charming aside: it was in St Andrews that Prince William first met Kate Middleton.
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 of students: 4–19
Total number of students: 574
Number of boarding students: 160
Percentage of international students: 30%
Boarding fees for senior school per term: £18,140 (VAT included)
The most important sports on offer in addition to traditional team sports: Scottish Country Dance, cricket, swimming, gymnastics, tennis, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, snowboarding
Nearest airports: Edinburgh 77 km, Dundee 24 km, Glasgow 150 km
https://www.stleonards-fife.org/
Key Strengths at a Glance
IB diploma
Strong golf program
Good relationship with the University of St Andrews
International yet family-like atmosphere
St Leonard’s School – Photo Highlights
St Leonard’s School in Detail
Golf
St Leonard’s is internationally famous as a cradle of golf. Students here are the envy of golfers worldwide, practising right by the sea. The St Leonard’s Golf Programme nurtures both beginners and advanced players, supported by its own dedicated Golf Academy — ideal for passionate golfers. But hockey players, footballers, equestrians and water sports enthusiasts will also find first-class facilities. Its seaside location is perfect for sailing, kayaking or windsurfing, while weekends bring excursions and sporting competitions.
Community
Despite its 37 nationalities, this remains a relatively small school with a distinctly family feel. We felt the warmth and positivity immediately on our visit. Tutors are available around the clock, working closely with students to set and achieve their goals. To foster awareness beyond the school walls, students also have the chance to volunteer with local organisations, making a meaningful contribution to the wider community. We especially value the cultural richness here — from Chinese New Year celebrations to Scottish country dancing and the annual Burns Night in honour of the poet Robert Burns.
Academics
What sets St Leonard’s apart is its exclusive focus on the IGCSE, Pre-IB and IB Diploma. Few schools can match its consistently strong results. The curriculum is broad and first-rate, with subjects ranging from Mandarin and Latin to Business and Life Skills alongside the core disciplines. Notably, students benefit from the proximity of the University of St Andrews, with opportunities to take courses, experience university life, and use the library and sports facilities.
Creative Arts
The arts flourish at St Leonard’s. Every student can find their creative niche here, supported by modern facilities set in two beautiful historic buildings. Under the guidance of committed teachers, students gain experience in drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography, and digital design. Music is particularly strong, and the school also sets high standards in drama, offering ensembles, choirs, orchestra and even a pipe band. Regular excursions further enrich students’ artistic understanding.
The Head’s Perspective
Simon Brian
„As Headmaster of St Leonard’s – a dedicated International Baccalaureate World School – I want to emphasise how much we value our partnership with Martin and his team at Akademis since 2019. It was a real pleasure to welcome Martin here in person and to show him around our campus — truly the best way to get a feel for our school. We have been hugely impressed by the students who have joined us through Akademis. They have flourished in our international boarding community and grown into successful lifelong learners. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Akademis in the years ahead.“
Feedback from Students and Parents
Isabell and family
„We came to know Akademis as an agency defined by extraordinary focus, competence and reliable client care. Our daughter dreamt of attending a boarding school in Scotland. The head of the agency himself took time for a wonderfully pleasant initial conversation, clearly drawing on great experience to get to know our daughter’s ideas, wishes, and personality. Within 24 hours we received the first thoughtful and well-reasoned school suggestions, all clearly linked back to what was discussed. Both we as parents and our daughter could reach out at any time to the head or our assigned advisor, and every query was answered promptly. This agency truly puts the child first — they treat each child as if it were their own. Thanks to their excellent contacts with the schools, our daughter was accepted by a renowned boarding school even though the application deadline had already passed. Even after she arrived, they stayed in touch and offered help — though it was no longer necessary. We can wholeheartedly recommend Akademis and its staff, where this profession is both a calling and an art. Many thanks especially to Mr Thierfelder and Mr Soeyadi — wishing you continued success!“
St Leonards School Fees
Fees at St Leonard’s School are £18,140 per term, or £54,420 per year (including VAT).
Our Visit
Quintessentially Scottish — in the best possible sense. That’s how we experienced this boarding school during our visit to St Andrews. The school has an infectious charm: we were surrounded by happy students playing games on the beach and flying kites together. That this was the first school in the world where girls played lacrosse simply adds to its uniquely cheerful spirit.
Photos From Our Visit
What our clients say about us
Get a free consultation and find out more about St Leonard’s School
Conclusion St Leonards School
St Leonard’s is ideal for keen golfers — but also offers excellent facilities for a wide range of other sports. Of course, it is far from the only school in Britain with outstanding sporting opportunities, so we strongly recommend seeking tailored advice to match your child’s specific needs and ambitions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us — our longstanding relationships with these schools mean we can offer genuine, first-hand insights.
We are confident we can find the right boarding school for your child. We’re also happy to advise you on other schools in England — you’ll find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- Authentic, first-hand insights
- Excellent relationships with admissions teams
- Years of experience in placements
- Guidance on 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.
