Madras College

Madras College is a secondary school in St Andrews with distinctive Neo-Jacobean architecture arranged in a quadrangular layout. The building features a two-story northern section with notable window forms and a round-arched cloister that connects different parts of the campus.

The school was founded in 1833 from the joining of St Andrews' existing Grammar School with an English school brought by Reverend Dr Andrew Bell. This merger combined two separate institutions into what became the college that stands today.

The name comes from Madras in India, where founder Andrew Bell developed his teaching approach before establishing this school. The building itself carries this connection through its design and the symbols displayed within.

The school educates students aged 11 to 18 following the Scottish curriculum. As a visitor, you can walk around the campus to see how the different sections connect and understand the layout of the buildings.

The school pioneered a teaching method where older students taught younger ones, an approach that founder Andrew Bell had developed during his time abroad. This system was unusual for its era and set the institution apart from others.

Location: Fife

Inception: 1833

Address: Madras College, Bell Brae, St Andrews

Website: http://madras.fife.sch.uk

GPS coordinates: 56.33773,-2.79784

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:29