About this episode

Ruth Benny interviews Mark Lauder about the unique aspects of Scottish boarding education and its holistic approach to student development.

Welcome back to Destination Education, I’m your host Ruth Benny, Founder of Top Schools. Today, we are heading north to the beautiful countryside of Perthshire, Scotland. Our guest is Mark Lauder, Headmaster of Strathallan School. Mark brings over 30 years of experience in boarding education—16 of those as a Head—and a deeply personal perspective on how a truly holistic education can transform a child’s life. In this episode, Ruth and Mark dive into the unique charm of Scottish boarding, the essential role of co-curricular activities, and the "real-world" preparation that happens outside the classroom. From the inclusivity of Scottish "reeling" (traditional dancing) to groundbreaking approaches in student mental health through athletic development, Mark shares why education must be a "people business" first. Can't wait for you to plug into this conversation, so grab a cup of tea☕️ and enjoy the episode! Why Listen? The Scottish Advantage: Discover why a school an hour from Edinburgh can be more accessible and integrated than many in the English southeast. The "Margaret" Factor: Learn how dedicated support staff, like the school’s long-term taxi driver, become an integral part of…

People in this episode

Host: Ruth Benny

Guest: Mark Lauder

Topics covered

• Scottish boarding education
• holistic education
• co-curricular activities
• student mental health
• university readiness

Keywords

• boarding education
• Scottish schools
• co-curricular
• mental health
• university preparation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Strathallan School

Places: Perthshire, Scotland, Edinburgh, English southeast

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