Kingswells Community News April-May 2020

FREE Issue 42 Apr-May 2020

Lathallan School inspires excellence

As you enter the grounds of Lathallan School at Johnshaven, south of Aberdeen, it’s easy to see why it’s such a special place.

The private grounds cover more than 60 acres and around each corner, a surprise. There’s a treehouse classroom, a small farm, two ziplines, an eco garden, Lathallan’s version of Narnia and so much more. All are an indication of why Education Scotland singled out Lathallan School as having “a rich and engaging outdoor learning environment beyond the school classrooms”.

But the grounds, which provide such a wealth of opportunities for outdoor learning and recreational activities, tell only part of the story. The school itself is housed in Brotherton Castle, an imposing baronial building dating back to 1867 and its approach to teaching is just as impressive.

An independent co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged five to 18, with additional nursery facilities for children aged from six weeks to five, Lathallan provides a unique learning experience where the provision of a well-rounded education is a priority.

With an average of just 12 pupils per class, pupils benefit from more focused teaching with individual support as they work towards their academic goals. A new state-of-the art science building provides a centre of excellence for pupils considering careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines.

Beyond the classroom, pupils are encouraged and supported in their pursuit of extra-curricular activities which interest them or where they show talent whether that be in sport, music or art.

In the past year alone, pupils have visited Iceland, volunteered at a school in South Africa, sailed on the west coast and climbed in Cornwall. They’ve performed in public with the pipe band, won a national chess championship, excelled at national level in a variety of team and individual sports and achieved outstanding straight A exam results. Even the nursery children have gone sledging at Glenshee, abseiled down a North Sea cliff and learned to fish in Brotherton’s burn.

The school has a wide catchment area and, thanks to the AWPR, is even more accessible for pupils from the north. Kingswells is only a 40-minute drive away and a direct bus runs from North Deeside Road via Stonehaven. A direct bus also runs from Brechin, Montrose and Finavon to the south.

For more information please visit: https://lathallan.org.uk/

Opportunityto shine

 Small class sizes  Classrooms in a castle  New science centre  On-site school farm  Only 40 minutes from Kingswells via the AWPR