A Personal Welcome
On behalf of everyone at Dunnet House School, I am delighted to welcome you to our new website.
For thirty-seven years, families have entrusted us with something precious: their children's formative years. That responsibility shapes everything we do, from how we teach to how we care for each pupil who walks through our doors.
Why We Built This Website
We wanted to give prospective families a genuine sense of who we are before they visit. Not marketing speak or polished promises, but an honest window into daily life at Dunnet House.
You'll find detailed information about our curriculum, our staff, our facilities, and our approach to education. But more importantly, I hope you'll get a feel for our culture: the warmth of our community, the depth of our relationships, and the joy that fills our corridors.
What Makes Us Different
We're a small school by design. With an average class size of eight pupils and a staff-to-pupil ratio of 1:6, every child is known — truly known — by every adult in our community.
Our teachers notice when someone's having a difficult day. They celebrate quiet victories as enthusiastically as public ones. They adapt their teaching to suit how each child learns best.
This isn't an accident. It's our philosophy. We believe childhood should be a time of wonder, not pressure. A time to ask questions, make mistakes, explore interests, and develop the confidence to tackle challenges.
Our Highland Home
Location matters enormously to us. From our grounds, children can see the Pentland Firth, the distant outline of Orkney, and skies that stretch forever. We use this extraordinary environment constantly — not as occasional field trips, but as an integral part of our curriculum.
Weekly forest school sessions, coastal ecology studies, and outdoor learning are woven through everything we do. Children here develop a deep connection to the natural world that shapes their understanding of themselves and their place in it.
Come and See for Yourself
A website can only tell you so much. The best way to understand Dunnet House is to visit: to see our classrooms, meet our teachers, watch our pupils at work and play, and feel the atmosphere that makes this place so special.
We welcome visitors throughout the term and are always happy to arrange individual tours at times that suit your family.
I look forward to meeting you.
Mrs Fiona MacLeod
Headteacher