Queen Victoria School

Queen Victoria School is a non-selective independent boarding school for children of Scottish servicemen aged 10/11 to 18. It occupies a Scottish Baronial-style building on a rural campus just outside Dunblane, a short distance away from the city of Stirling, Scotland. It is the only school in the UK managed and funded by the Ministry of Defence (Duke of York's Royal Military School in Kent is now managed by the DfE).

History
The idea of the school was originally proposed to Queen Victoria as a memorial to the Scottish dead of the Boer Wars, and after her death it was thought fit to name it in her memory. With the support of former politician Robert Cranston, money was raised from Scottish servicemen and the people of Scotland to complete the project. Queen Victoria School was opened on 28 September 1908 by King Edward VII. The Chapel was completed in 1910 and is Scotland’s memorial to Queen Victoria. Girls were admitted for 1996-97 academic year into all years and the first female senior monitor was elected in 1999.

Admissions
In the past, admissions was restricted to children of Scottish servicemen but is now open to families from all three services and school fees are subsidised by the MoD. Children from civilian families may be admitted on other compassionate grounds (i.e. death of parents).

Curriculum
QVS uses the Scottish curriculum and pupils are prepared for National Qualifications: from 2014, Nationals 3-5, from 2015, National 6 (Higher) and from 2015, National 7 (Advanced Higher).

Traditions
Traditionally the school provided an austere but continuous education for Scottish war orphans, with a good deal of military training and sports. Since the Second World War, the school has provided an education to children whose fathers have been travelling the world in the Armed Forces.

A strong military ethos is still maintained by a pipe band and Combined Cadet Force (CCF) section. The school has its own "colours", its own cap badge, and pupils wear the Clan Stewart hunting tartan. The school pipe band used to play at every rugby home international at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh.

Houses
The house system is based on the boarding programme as all pupils are boarders. Boarding is available to pupils aged 11 (Primary 7) and above. There are four houses:

Alumni
Alumni are known as "Old Victorians".


 * Gordon Pritchard,