Valerie Higson

George Heriot's School

As Scotland's oldest independent school, situated on a UNESCO world heritage site, George Heriot's is an integral part of Edinburgh's history. Today Heriot's educates boys and girls aged 4-18 with a modern, vibrant curriculum which balances academic rigour with an array of activities and sports. The School is a UNICEF Rights Respecting gold award holder, a British Council International School and an LGBT Schools gold charter holder. Voted Scotland's highest-achieving school by the Times/Sunday Times in 2020 and UK Independent School of the Year 2021, Heriot's leads in best practice for the teaching of Philosophy to children as well as in supporting bereavement, in keeping with its Foundation, set up by George Heriot, to educate children who have lost a parent. 'I distribute chearfullie' is the school motto: to show kindness, to give support, and be generous to others.