Tag: private education

New day offering added at Edinburgh boys’ school

Expansion of pricing structure to offer greater flexibility for families

SCOTLAND’S only all-boys’ independent boarding and day school has introduced a new day pupil option, offering families greater choice and a pricing structure that prioritises clarity, transparency and value.

The existing wraparound care option available at Merchiston Castle School for day boys, now known as “Day Plus” remains unchanged, offering a full day of lessons, co-curricular activities, wraparound care until 9pm, and two hot meals – an offering which has proven popular with busy, working families.

Now, a new “Day” option is being introduced that covers the core academic school day (8am to 4.30pm) and lunch, priced at £24,000 per annum.

Unlike many other independent schools, the quoted price is all-inclusive, with no additional charges for lunch or other standard services, providing full transparency and removing the burden of hidden extras often found elsewhere in the sector.

The new “Day” structure has been created in direct response to the changing financial pressures facing families in 2025, including the introduction of VAT on school fees and wider inflationary challenges. In addition, a new flexible boarding package has been introduced giving families a two-night boarding option.

Gareth Baird, Chairman of the Board of Governors, welcomes the move as an important step in ensuring the school remains accessible to a broad range of families.

He said: “Merchiston has a long-standing reputation for excellence in both education and character development. By expanding our day offering, we are responding to the wider challenges following the introduction of VAT and rising inflation this year, while demonstrating that as a business we are agile and responsive to the needs of our families, both existing and prospective.

“The introduction of a flexible day offering is a natural evolution for the school. It ensures we continue to provide the highest quality education while recognising the diverse and changing needs of families.

“We want to ensure that more families can benefit from the exceptional education and sporting facilities available across our 100 acre campus, and with class sizes averaging around 16 students, we believe our new day proposition will be very attractive to local families.”

Founded nearly 200 years ago, the introduction of this new structure reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of modern families, while maintaining the highest standard of academic excellence, pastoral care and co-curricular activities.

The school’s boarding provision, for which it is renowned, will remain unchanged, with Merchiston continuing to offer a vibrant and nurturing environment for students who choose to board.

Founded in Edinburgh in 1833, Merchiston Castle School is Scotland’s only all-boys independent day and boarding school. It focuses on providing a transformative educational experience that nurtures young men to become confident, compassionate, and accomplished individuals.

For more information about Merchiston, visit: 

www.merchiston.co.uk/admissions/our-day-offering

Fettes College begins search for new head teacher

A recruitment process has begun for a new head teacher at Fettes College in Edinburgh, with the current Head Helen Harrison announcing her retirement from the role next year. The school has commissioned a specialist firm to help identify candidates, with applications due by 15 May.

Named after its founder, Sir William Fettes, the school opened in 1870 and has around 720 students with over 300 staff. It is the only school in Scotland to offer the option of A-Levels or International Baccalaureate in the Sixth Form and a top ten IB School in the UK. Although it currently serves young people aged 7 – 18, from next academic year it will also open a Pre-Prep and offer places to children from age five.

The Rt Hon Lady Morag Wise, Chair of the Governors, said: “Helen has selflessly devoted herself to Fettes for over 30 years – 19 in a senior leadership role and latterly seven as Head.

“She has made a significant contribution to the success of this place and her vision for Fettes has steered a path that ensures our students leave Fettes knowing themselves, looking out for others and ready to make a positive mark on their rapidly changing world.

“We are now beginning the work of securing a new Head in partnership with Perrett Laver to ensure we have someone worthy of leading this great school. The Governing Body is seeking a visionary educationalist who will bring energy and experience to the role of Head from September 2026. 

“This is a rare and career-defining opportunity for an outstanding leader.”

Helen Harrison said: “This place; the students and our staff mean the world to me, and it will always be the honour of my life to have led Fettes College and this community.

“I am immensely proud of our achievements, of seeing my vision for Fettes come to life, ground-breaking facilities under construction; and most importantly our students fulfilling their potential.

“However, by Founder’s Day next year it will be the right time to pass on this privilege to the next Head. Until that time it is business as usual and I will continue to give this job my absolute all.”

Fettes opens doors to five-year-olds

For the first time in its 154-year history, children aged five will be able to join Fettes College in Edinburgh.

From September 2025, it will be opening a ‘pre-prep’ within its existing prep school, allowing children to join straight from nursery rather than waiting until they are seven.

Parents are being invited to register their interest ahead of an announcement on the full details at the school’s next open day in October.

Charlie Minogue, Headmaster of Fettes Prep, said: “From speaking with families we’re confident that this change is going to be popular. As well as their younger children being able to benefit from a Fettes education, they will also be able to take advantage of flexible wraparound care.

“At present this is available to all day pupils in the Prep School, who are aged 7-13. We know that working parents in particular value the option to drop-off as early as 7.45am and pick up as late as 7pm on some days, while pupils have access to an extraordinary range of activities and can go home, having already had lots of fun with their friends, enjoyed tea, and completed their homework.

“This is part of our bold new ‘Prep for Life’ vision, heralding an exciting step that will enable us to have children with us for longer and prepare them to the fullest possible extent for the next phase of their education.”

With an increasing number of parents and carers returning to the office as working patterns revert to pre-pandemic norms, the school is introducing a morning minibus service from next term. This will initially run from West Edinburgh with additional routes in the pipeline.