Adventure & Leadership
At Loretto, the opportunity to participate in Outdoor Pursuits begins in Junior School where pupils regularly enjoy Forest School activities.
In Senior School students can partake in many outdoor pursuits, including sailing lessons, an introduction to mountain biking, completion of the Outdoor Discovery Award, and a national qualification in navigation and map reading that encourages exploration and journeying in local areas.
Second and Third Form pupils have timetabled lessons in Outdoor Education.
F2 pupils undertake the John Muir Trust Award, an environmental scheme focussed on wild places and its conservation.
F3 follow a bespoke outdoor learning and adventure training programme throughout the year.
Toward the end of the academic year, both F2 and F3 pupils undertake an outdoor residential trip.
Leadership opportunities include:
- Food committee
- Year Groups reps to pupil council
- Mentorship for younger pupils
For all year groups in Senior School we offer opportunities in
- Sailing,
- Paddlesports,
- Munro bagging,
- Mountain biking,
- Climbing,
- Bouldering and
- Cycling.
In Sixth Form we offer a bespoke three to four week international summer expedition in alternate years. Previous destinations have included:
- East Greenland
- Iceland
- Arctic Norway
To develop leadership skills and opportunities there are many Sixth Form positions of responsibility including:
- Head of House and Deputy Heads of House and House committees
- School Prefect with responsibility for a year group or organisation
- Head of School/Deputy Head of School
- CCF leadership
- Chapel Clerks
- Charities Committee
- Colour Prefects
- Leavers’ and Social Committee
- Captains and vice captains in Art, Drama, Music, Pipe Band and each Sport
- Pupil Council
Loretto Combined Cadet Force (CCF), represented by both navy and army sections, aims to develop personal responsibility, leadership, discipline, resilience, confidence and the ability to work effectively as a team. CCF is voluntary and open to Fourth to Sixth Form pupils on a Wednesday afternoon.
In alternate years, cadets are offered the opportunity to undertake a challenging winter expedition in Norway. In 2025, cadets will be re-tracing the footsteps of the WW2 ‘Heroes of Telemark’ on our 11-day Viking Telemark Expedition.
On joining the CCF in Fourth Form, all pupils join the army section and undertake activities in drill, skill at arms, shooting, fieldcraft, first aid and adventurous training, including overnight exercises and summer camps. From Fifth Form, students can remain with the army or join the navy, with themed training activities in each section that develop courage, self-discipline, respect for others, integrity, loyalty and commitment.
Cadets progress through the ranks and may join the Senior Cadet Leadership Team in Upper Sixth.
“Many schools educate, but not all schools produce confident and humble students that give their best effort. Loretto being a small school means your child matters and is given more opportunities to take part in all sorts of extracurricular activities, building greater confidence and a sense of belonging. My children are very proud to be Lorettonians.”
Senior School parent