The school has a large catchment area stretching all over Berwickshire including Duns, Greenlaw, Chirnside, Coldstream, Foulden, Paxton, Eccles, Leitholm, Allanton and Swinton.

The school motto is from the famous poem Ulysses, "To Strive, To Seek, To Find and not to Yield" basically meaning to make the most of your life.

This is not only a way to organise classes but is also intended to encourage a rivalry, being the basis of inter-house competitive events.

Work started in October 2006 on the new school which is located opposite the old building.

The design was similar to Eyemouth High School and Earlston High School which were all built at the same time under a Public Private Partnership with the Scottish Borders Council.