Welcome from the Rector

Welcome to the Edinburgh Academy. I hope that you will enjoy browsing our webpages and discovering more about our inclusive, thriving community.

Many of the Academy’s founding principles, established in 1824, remain the same today: our overriding ethos is derived from the school motto: ‘Always Excel’. At the Edinburgh Academy we aim to work closely with our pupils to find and unlock their potential, to discover ways that our students can succeed and to help them learn new things about themselves as they grow into young adults. A focus on pupil wellbeing and character development gives our students the self-confidence, self-belief, resilience and determination to always do their best. 

Our Admissions process aims to identify pupils who have the potential and attitude to make the most of the many opportunities we offer them. The Edinburgh Academy is not a large school, with only 600 in the Senior School, 400 in the Junior School and 100 in the Nursery, set on two distinctly different campuses. This enables each pupil to be well-known and valued as an individual. Whilst an outstanding academic education is at the core of all we do, we pride ourselves on our ability to ‘add value’ to each pupil’s education. Our students benefit from inspirational teaching tailored to their individual needs, allowing them to improve significantly across their time at the school. This added-value also extends to the wide range of co-curricular opportunities offered to our pupils, all of which help to instil and develop the skills required to enable our young ‘Accies’ to compete successfully in their chosen career. Edinburgh Academy leavers are best characterised by their well-rounded education, their sense of perspective and place in the community, where it can certainly be said they are ‘grounded in Scotland, and ready for the world.’ 

Please do come and visit us – a live tour of the school is the best way to learn more about the Academy.

Barry Welsh
Rector