Loretto School

Established	1827
Type	Independent school
Headmaster	Peter Hogan
Founder	Rev. Thomas Langhorne
Students	Circa 500
Location	Musselburgh, Scotland
Website	www.lorettoschool.co.uk

Loretto School is an independent school in Scotland, founded in 1827. The campus occupies 85 acres (34 ha) in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 The Golf Academy 3 Notable alumni 4 References 5 External links

[edit] History

Loretto (which is Scotland's oldest extant boarding school^[2] was founded by the Reverend Thomas Langhorne in 1827. Langhorne came from Crosby Ravensworth, near Kirkby Stephen. The school was later taken over by his son, also Thomas Langhorne. The last link with the Langhorne family was with John Langhorne, who was master at Loretto from 1890-1897 and later headmaster at the John Watson's Institution.^[3][4]

Loretto became known throughout Britain during the headmastership of Dr Hely Hutchinson Almond (1862-1903), himself a distant relative of Thomas Langhorne.^[5] His strong belief in the development of the individual in the round—in mind, body and spirit—and in the value of "a community living according to the dictates of reason" can still be seen today.

The School is made up of two parts - the Junior School ('The Nippers') for children aged 3-12 and the Senior School for those aged 12 and over. In 1981 girls joined the Sixth form and in 1995 the Third form, so making the school fully co-educational in 1997.

Loretto's historic campus includes the famous 'Pinkie House' as well as a 300 seat theatre and 600 seat Chapel. Pupils attend as boarders, flexi-boarders and day pupils and are all attached to a specific house. Houses include Schoolhouse (for day pupils), Seton house (for 3rd to 5th form border boys), Holm house (for 3rd to fifth form girls), Balcarres (for 6th form girls), Pinkie and Hope house (lower sixth and upper sixth boys).

[edit] The Golf Academy

The Loretto Golf Academy was established in 2001, and has since attracted many top young golfers around the world. The Golf Academy allows pupils to combine regular golf tuition without affecting their academic studies. One of the Golf Academy's targets is to produce a future Open champion.

On 11 July 2006, Loretto clinched the infamous HMC Foursomes title. After triumphing in the 'Northern' section of the competition, Loretto maintained their unbeaten record in the National Finals with an eventual 2-1 victory over Eton to be crowned British Independent Schools Champions 2006.

[edit] Notable alumni

For a more inclusive list see Category:Old Lorettonians

Notable Old Lorettonians include:

• Jim Clark - two-time Formula One World Champion
• Alistair Darling - Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Fergus Ewing - SNP politician
• Sir Nicholas Fairbairn, Conservative politician, former Solicitor General for Scotland
• Sir Denis Forman - Chair of The British Film Institute; Chairman and Managing Director of Granada Television
• Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie - Conservative politician, former Solicitor General for Scotland
• James Graham, 8th Duke of Montrose
• James Greenlees - Scottish international rugby captain and headmaster of Loretto School
• Sir Henry Holland - medical missionary, Quetta; pioneer eye surgeon.
• Charles d'Orville Pilkington Jackson - sculptor (Bruce monument at Bannockburn)
• Norman Lamont - former Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Hew Lorimer - sculptor
• Miles Mander - early Hollywood actor
• Andrew Marr - journalist
• Edward Powys Mathers, translator, poet, and pioneer cryptic crossword setter ('Torquemada' of the 'Observer')
• Robin Orr - composer
• Alex Poots - director, Manchester International Festival

[edit] References

1. ^ Loretto School. Retrieved on 2008-10-17 from http://www.lorettoschool.co.uk/
2. ^ The History of Loretto)
3. ^ The Langhorne Memorial, The Levite, Vol IV, No.7 (Spring 1927)
4. ^ John Langhorne's grandfather (also John Langhorne, master of Giggleswick school) was the cousin and neighbour of Thomas Langhorne senior. See Crosby Ravensworth archives
5. ^ The History of Loretto • Loretto School

[edit] External links

• Loretto School — the official school website
• Loretto School's page on Scottish Schools Online
• Loretto School's reviews, rankings and reports page in the Independent Schools Directory