SERVICE PARENTS' GUIDE TO BOARDING SCHOOLS • SPRING 2022 / SCHOOLS FOUNDED BY THE MILITARY / 39
Queen Victoria School, Dunblane (Scotland)
Q Queen Victoria School is a boarding school which is funded by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to provide for the children of UK Armed Forces families. Parents do not pay fees as such and many costs are covered by the MoD. However, parents are asked to make a termly contribution to support the smooth running of the school.
Donald Shaw Headmaster, Queen Victoria School, Dunblane
a variety of locations, so coming to QVS
Drumming and Dancing are a major
provides a wonderful, stable and secure
part of our school and we show off our
place of education.
skills on those areas on our six Parade Sundays a year, and on Grand Day – the
Games and outdoor activities are
final day of the academic year – which
important parts of life at QVS. Rugby and
is one of the proudest moments of a
hockey are the main sports. We have
Victorian’s life. The Pipes, Drums and
a beautiful setting in some 45 acres of
Dancers of QVS are internationally
countryside on the edge of Dunblane,
renowned, playing at tattoos both at
We tend to cater for families who are
much of which is given over to games
home and abroad, and they are regular
Scottish, are serving in Scotland or
pitches and recreational areas. The Duke
successful competitors in many Pipe
who have served in Scotland. Retired
of Edinburgh’s Award is pursued at all
Band events around the country.
personnel are also eligible to apply for
three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.
a place for their children but priority is
If you meet the criteria and you think
Academically, the school regularly
your child would thrive at QVS, a visit is
achieves pass rates at National 5
the best way to experience what we can
If your child comes to QVS, he or she
and Higher which are well above the
offer. Open Day is in September every
will be joining a supportive ‘family’
Scottish national averages. Some
year and any enquiries can be sent to
community, where pastoral care and
Advanced Highers are offered in S6
QVS.Admissions@modschools.org
academic excellence are at the heart of
and numbers are increasing with each
For more information go to
all that we do.
year. We are also now starting to offer
www.qvs.school
given to actively serving personnel.
more vocational subjects such as
CO-EDUCATIONAL AND TRI-SERVICE
photography, woodwork and metalwork,
QVS is co-educational and tri-Service.
and employability. As an academically
Our main intake is in Primary 7, which
non-selective school, we strive to cater
is broadly the same as Year 6 in the
for the needs of every individual.
along with subjects such as enterprise
English system. Many of our pupils have come from educationally disrupted
The ceremonial aspects of school life
backgrounds, caused by moving from
are central to becoming a ‘Victorian’,
school to school as parents are posted to
as our pupils are known. Drill, Piping,
Donald Shaw began his teaching career at Inveralmond Community High School in Livingston, West Lothian, where he was promoted to Principal Teacher of Mathematics with whole-school responsibility for raising attainment. In 2006, he moved to the post of Head of Mathematics at QVS and in 2012 he became Senior and Academic Deputy Head. He was appointed as Headmaster in 2016. In his spare time he is a keen runner, cyclist and hill walker.