Episode 5 is the first conversation in our series with the head of a boarding school.

Pete Richardson is Head of Loretto School, a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, with nursery provision. Located in Musselburgh, East Lothian, just outside Edinburgh, Loretto has fewer than 500 pupils and offers outstanding facilities, including a first-class Golf Academy. The school follows the English curriculum and exam system.

In this episode, we discover how Pete first became interested in teaching and hear about his career before joining Loretto. We also discuss his leadership style, his core values, and how these are woven into the ethos of the school.

Pete’s family is very much part of school life, including his wife. They were both born in South Africa, and I could honestly have listened to his lovely accent all day.

Loretto is one of the few schools in Scotland that follows the English curriculum, so we explore what that means for pupils when it comes to exams. As Loretto is also a boarding school, I asked Pete about the benefits of boarding and discovered that the school offers families the opportunity to try boarding before making a longer-term commitment. We also discuss flexi-boarding options, as well as places for day pupils.

Finally, we talk about the format of Loretto’s Senior School Open Day, taking place on 26 September.

Pete’s warmth and kindness come across so clearly throughout the podcast. I would highly recommend listening to this episode to find out whether Loretto should be on your Open Day list.

Find out more about Loretto at: www.loretto.com

Get in touch with the podcast here: schoolguidepod@gmail.com

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