When Logan received an A4 envelope in the post containing news of his 100% bursary acceptance to Dollar Academy, he couldn't have imagined the journey that lay ahead. Now serving as Head Boy in his final year, Logan reflects on an educational experience that he describes, without hesitation, as ‘life-changing’.
Logan grew up with his mother and grandparents, attending a state school in Dunblane. His educational path seemed set – until a chance conversation changed everything. "The plan was for me to go to Dunblane High School," Logan explains. "But my mum was speaking to another parent who knew about our financial situation. She said, 'You know, there are bursaries available. Why don't you try?'"
Logan took the entrance assessment for Form One. When the acceptance letter arrived offering a 100% bursary, the decision was easy; "I was absolutely delighted, because I'd heard such wonderful things about the school," Logan recalls. "Once I knew that I was going to be able to get a bursary and that I'd been accepted, it was no question that's where I was going to go."
For Logan, arriving at Dollar was like stepping into a new world. "The campus was beautiful, I was amazed at what was there. It was like Hogwarts," he says with genuine enthusiasm. The transition from a state primary to Dollar's expansive grounds was overwhelming – not because of any perception of social difference, but because of the sheer scale of opportunities.
"I just couldn't believe this idea of a campus with so many different buildings and all the labs and all these things I'd never really seen before... I remember sitting at home with my mum and looking at the Dollar website, at all the co-curricular activities and all the subjects, and thinking, 'Wow, look at all these opportunities, all these different paths that I could go down.'"
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Logan's mother, though never a ‘pushy parent’, gave him simple advice before starting at Dollar: "Really, you should try everything you can, because it's a once in a lifetime opportunity."
He took this to heart, throwing himself into school life with particular focus on debating – a pursuit that would eventually lead him to extraordinary success. He was introduced to debating in Form 1 and what began as a curiosity blossomed into excellence. Under the mentorship of Neil McFadyean, Head of History, Logan progressed to representing Scotland at the 2024 World Championships in Belgrade – which his team won.
"I do remember thinking it's one of those moments where you can look back at how you got there," Logan reflects on the championship. "This is the most incredible culmination of everything I've done through the school for so many years. And it's those little, small moments of encouragement you have in the school which form the basis of the things you can take forward."
Logan's journey culminated in being named Head Boy – a responsibility he never imagined would be his when he first entered Dollar. "Being Head Boy was never something I thought I'd be able to do," he admits. "I remember being invited to the Rector's office and being asked to do it, that was extraordinary. I couldn't believe it."
The role has taught him valuable lessons about leadership, collaboration, and working with others – skills that extend far beyond the classroom.
"Being Head Boy has its struggles, I think, like anything," Logan says. "It demands a lot of you in terms of time and commitment. But it's a great experience... You really do learn the value of being able to work with other people."
More than the responsibility, Logan values the opportunity being Head Boy has provided to contribute to a community that has given him so much: "I do really love this school because of everything it's given to me, and because of how much I know I've enjoyed my time here... Being able to help in some way, or being able to serve in a capacity which is not just as a pupil... I really do enjoy that."
Throughout the interview, Logan repeatedly emphasises the transformative impact of Dollar's teaching staff – particularly their ability to go beyond the constraints of exam preparation.
"Neil McFadyean, Head of History, is someone who's absolutely fantastic in the amount of time he gives to teaching and the amount of time he gives to immersing you in the subject, not just the exam," Logan says. "We're pushed to think harder than the exam requires us, and that's a really good thing going into life beyond school."
The smaller class sizes at Dollar create space for deeper engagement with subjects and more individualised attention: "The number of pieces of work I could hand in – extra things I'd done –say, 'Would you mind having a look at this?' And they'd say, 'Sure, no problem.' Or teachers who are willing to spend their lunchtimes going over prelims with pupils and telling them where they lost marks... all this individual support speaks to the character of the teachers."
When asked what receiving a bursary has meant to him and his family, Logan doesn't hesitate: "It's no underestimation, I think, to say that it's been life-changing."
The confidence instilled through his time at Dollar has shaped his outlook on what's possible in life. "It doesn't make you arrogant... but I think it breeds a sense of self-confidence, and not a kind of outward braggy self-confidence, but a sense of, actually, if I put the work in, I can achieve good things, and I can do well at things."
To young people considering applying for a bursary at Dollar, Logan's advice is emphatic: "Do it, 100%."
He stresses that receiving financial support was never a source of stigma or social division. "I have absolutely no shame about the fact that I’m on a bursary. You can tell people if you want to, you don't have to tell people. But it was never something which was, for me, a cause for shame.”
In fact, Logan notes that social identities at Dollar form around achievements and interests rather than financial circumstances: "You form your own identity by the work you put into things and by the experiences you have and by the activities you do, and that matters so much more than how much money your parents have."
Though Logan doesn't know the identity of the donors behind his bursary, his gratitude is profound.
"The money that you put in is incredibly beneficial… it really does change lives," he says. "I never would have been able to receive this education, but I have, and I'm extraordinarily grateful for those people who decided to donate enough money to send me to this school."
As Logan prepares for his gap year and university applications (he hopes to study politics), he carries with him not just academic achievements, but a transformative sense of what's possible in life – all because of one life-changing opportunity made possible through a bursary.
"All I can think about is positive things, about how lucky I've been," he concludes. "It is lifechanging. I can't emphasise that enough."
About bursaries at Dollar: Our bursary awards, for children entering Form 1, are means-tested and are targeted towards those in greatest financial need. Awards may cover the full tuition fee or part of it. Subject to continued satisfactory academic performance, and observance of our school rules and values, an award will apply for the duration of a child’s time at the school.