Personal Development
Personal Development Afternoons (PDA) are a core part of the Lathallan School curriculum and offer pupils the chance to grow and develop their skills beyond the classroom. From gaining barista training in our on-site coffee shop, to designing and creating your own outfit or reporting as a pupil journalist for the Brotherton Post student newsletter, Lathallan has something on offer for every pupil on a Friday afternoon.
Pupils can take part in farming, golf, shooting, dressmaking, photography, rock climbing, skiing, flying, journalism, magic and auditions for our school show among many other opportunities on offer depending on the season.
Our inspirational PDA programme has honed the talents of many pupils to help them achieve beyond Lathallan with current and former pupils using it as a springboard to compete for Scotland at Laser Run, to set up a successful jam-making business and to host their own radio station.
Trips and Exchanges
From a successful Kilimanjaro trip in Tanzania which saw all 28 participants reach the summit of the highest mountain in Africa – one of the world’s Seven Summits – to self-supported overnight camping just two km from the school, Lathallan offers something to meet all abilities.
In early 2019 our pupils went on a Geography trip to Iceland. This Geography trip saw our Senior Pupils visit the Reykjanes Peninsular, The Golden Circle, The South Shore, a lava centre and the Blue Lagoon.
S3-S6 pupils will travel to Munich in December as part of a history-focused tour.
Our school has visited South Africa for the past eight years to learn about conservation and volunteering at the Asante Sana Game Reserve and our chosen charity partner Vuyani Safe Haven.
We also offer a range of other trips, such as sailing off the West Coast of Scotland, overnight camping for our J3 class, biking for our J6s and a J7 Residential trip to Glenshee.
We regularly run exchange programmes in Canada and Australia, offering our pupils an incredible opportunity to learn abroad.
Duke of Edinburgh
Lathallan is a leading independent school in Scotland for the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Our school has the highest percentage of pupil uptake and completion at Bronze, Silver and Gold level in the country and is led by our highly-qualified teachers and assessors, who all hold minimum of Mountain Leader or above.
Our pupils plan and execute their own expeditions. At Bronze and Silver level we make full use of the school’s idyllic and unique location by running our expeditions in the adjacent mountains.
All S3 participants complete their volunteering through the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI) with further volunteering and service opportunities for school pupils in the local community.
Our wide range of sporting and musical activities enable pupils to complement exisiting skills and fulfil their physical and skill sections of their appropriate DofE Award.