Here, the rare is surprisingly common.
The hawfinch is one of Britain's most rare and elusive creatures. Shy, remarkable, and seldom seen, it makes its home on our campus — one of only a handful of places in the country where it can still be found.
It is a fitting emblem for The Hawfinch, Strathallan's newly launched literary journal.
Published by Hawfinch Press, Strathallan's literary imprint, this inaugural edition brings together twenty-one pieces of rare and extraordinary writing from across the Strathallan community. Memories and myth, dystopic futures and imagined pasts, observations of the natural world and commentary on the one we want to build for future generations.
Together, these pieces remind us that extraordinary writing is not defined by age or experience, but by the ability to see the world differently and invite others to do the same.
Thanks go to our panel of student readers, under the guidance of Pupil Editor Emma K. The beautiful hawfinch illustration featured throughout this edition was created by Rose C, whose artwork captures the spirit of the publication: distinctive, thoughtful and deeply connected to the place we call home.
We hope this first edition is the beginning of a lasting tradition that celebrates creative expression and inspires future generations of writers, readers and makers at Strathallan.
The First Edition of The Hawfinch will be available exclusively from the School Shop stall on Speech Day 2026.
