Fettes College A GSG School
- Fettes College
Carrington Road
Edinburgh
EH4 1QX - Head: Helen Harrison
- T 01313 116744
- F 01313 116714
- E admissions@fettes.com
- W www.fettes.com
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 7 to 18.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Edinburgh
- Pupils: 751; sixth formers: 126
- Religion: Non-denominational
- Fees: Day £23,850 - £39,450; Boarding £42,225 - £50,250 pa (last updated on 10/01/2025)
- Open days: Individual appointments available throughout the year.
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
What The Good Schools Guide says..
It’s an interesting mix, Fettes, of the traditional and the cutting edge. Touring the older classrooms, some of them steeped with graffiti from over 100 years ago, you can feel the weight of history, but you get a completely different vibe from the pupils and teachers who are unquestionably forward-looking. In short, don’t be fooled by the grand packaging, this has the feel of a...
What the school says...
Fettes College enjoys a reputation as one of the UKs pre-eminent co-educational boarding schools and is uniquely situated in extensive grounds and woodland close to the heart of Edinburgh. Our mission is to develop broadly educated, confident and thoughtful individuals by encouraging students to flourish and develop the skills and interests that they possess.
All major sports are offered with excellent outdoor and indoor facilities including a state of the art sports centre, plentiful outdoor pitches and indoor shooting range. In total over 20 sports are offered and our Elite Athlete Training Programme provides specialist help for the most talented sportsmen and women. A wide selection of extra-curricular activities are available.
Fettes seeks bright, motivated, and curious students who possess imagination, energy, a willingness to take risks, a concern for others, and a commitment to academic and personal growth. We interviews to assess the promise of each individual applicant and to determine which students will gain the most from and contribute to all that Fettes College has to offer. We actively seek a student body that is racially, geographically and socio-economically diverse and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
A wide range of scholarships are available at 13+ and 16+ including Sport, Music, Art, Academic, Piping and All-Rounder (all can be supplemented by a means tested bursary which can cover up to 95% of the fees). ...Read more
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Curricula
International Baccalaureate: diploma - the diploma is the familiar A-level equivalent.
Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Sports
Rowing
Fencing
Shooting
Sailing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since 2019, Helen Harrison, the school’s first female head, which she describes as ‘a definite honour’. MA in geography and PGCE, both from Cambridge, for which she also rowed. Taught EFL in Lisbon before first post as a geography teacher at Clifton College in Bristol. Joined Fettes in 1996 where her husband Rob taught English and ran one of the boarding houses. She took a career break when she had her two children and rapidly rose to deputy head on her return. Parents approved of her appointment as head after a choppy couple of years for the school: ‘fabulous’, ‘inspirational’, ‘great role model for my girls’, ‘strong female leader’ etc. Dynamic and engaging, we also found her warm and friendly, as well as comfortable with the current reputation of the school: ‘We feel we...
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Special Education Needs
At Fettes College we will evaluate special needs requirements on an individual basis and provide the necessary support. 09-09
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardvreck School | 2024 | 2 | 2 | |
| Aysgarth School | 2024 | 2 | 1 | Academic Scholarship x 1 |
| Belhaven Hill School | 2024 | 2 | ||
| Cargilfield School | 2024 | 9 | 6 | Scholarships: 2 Academic, 1 All Rounder, 3 Sports Exhibition |
| Craigclowan School | 2024 | 1 | 1 | 1 Sports Exhibition |
| St Mary's School (Melrose) | 2024 | 5 | 2 | All Rounder Scholarship; Sports Scholarship |
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