Age range. 5–13.
Number of pupils. 123: 28 boarders, 95 day pupils; 61 boys, 62 girls
Fees per term (2026–2027). Boarders: £12,900; Day Pupils: £8,800, Pre-Prep £5,175 – After School Club available to Pre-Prep children at an additional cost. The fees include all meals, textbooks, most trips and activities. Fees inclusive of VAT.
About Fettes Prep. Fettes Prep School lies within the spacious 100-acre grounds of Fettes College on its own separate campus. We benefit from the space, beauty and security of our site, access to world-class facilities, and easy access to central Edinburgh.
Fettes Prep is a place where teaching and learning are different, deliberately preparing children for a fast-changing world. We are also focused on providing the best possible preparation for our world-class senior school and are pro-active at ensuring our culture of kindness is maintained. Our school feels like a family, and we want it to stay that way.
All this is encapsulated in our Vision for Fettes Prep, ‘Prep for Life’, which is driving thinking as our school moves forward.
Teaching and learning. Our teachers are superb and teach differently. Lessons are designed to give children of a range of abilities, the knowledge they need but in a way that also encourages very specific skills to be developed, skills that young people will need for the rest of their schooling and in later life. The skill of critical thinking, the ability to collaborate, the mindset of creativity, the habit of resilience and the skill of empathy are all being taught and increasingly assessed at all levels of the school alongside the usual methods of assessing knowledge. Academic rigour at Fettes Prep means so much more than the simple assimilation of facts for exams, important as this is. Encouraging these skills alongside the usual learning also makes children more effective at passing exams and we have the space and time in our curriculum to focus on what children need at Prep School age so that they are ready for the next stage of their education and beyond. There is no terminal exam to pass from Fettes Prep School into the Senior School, and our curriculum and teaching can remain broad throughout each child’s whole journey with us – a huge advantage.
Extracurricular. Not every child can be good at everything, but every child can be good at something. It is our job as a Prep School to find something for every child. All aspects of the extracurricular life of the school are valued, and children are given a chance to get involved no matter what their skill level, while we also push the most able to achieve extraordinary things.
Sport is an important facet of any Prep School, and we are clear about why we play sport at Fettes Prep. We want everyone to get involved, improve and have fun. Our top teams compete in national finals (and even win some) but the lessons from winning well and losing well are just as important. Better people make better players. Our coaches are superb, and we benefit from the services of several who have represented Scotland in various sports.
Music runs through our school on a daily basis, and it says a lot that two thirds of the school are in one of our three choirs. The same philosophy of mass involvement and a pursuit of improvement at all levels underpins the music provision and we have musicians at Grade 8 and those just starting out. The opportunities to make music together and perform are extraordinary.
Drama is part of the curriculum, but the department is also ambitious with its productions. We want everyone to be involved while challenging the children to give more than they thought possible.
The standard of art teaching at Fettes Prep is extremely high and the department prides itself on ensuring an atmosphere where there is no fear of making mistakes. This culture encourages creativity and, along with the facilities, ensures that art is valued highly.
Pastoral care. Ask any child at Fettes Prep and they will tell you that kindness matters here. Our strong pastoral structures, including our Tutor system and high pupil-to-Tutor ratio, ensure that every child is known, supported and cared for. However, it is the special culture of the school that makes the greatest difference: our staff go the extra mile to understand each child as an individual, nurture their confidence and wellbeing, and ensure they feel valued, supported and part of the Fettes community.
Boarding. Boarding is at the heart of the Fettes community, with boarding available to pupils in Fettes Prep from Year 3 (M Form) onwards. Our two Houses, Arran & Iona, provide a welcoming home-from-home environment, where pastoral care is central to the boarding experience. Pupils are well supported by dedicated staff who know them well and help them develop confidence, independence and a strong sense of belonging. Boarders build lasting friendships and benefit from a community founded on mutual respect, care and support. Day pupils also benefit enormously from being part of a boarding school, with an extended school day offering a wealth of activities, opportunities and experiences. Above all, boarding at Fettes is about community, friendship, wellbeing and fun.
Entrance and assessment. Places in Fettes Prep are offered from Year 3 (M Form) upwards, subject to an age-appropriate assessment and interview. We also request a reference from the child’s current school and their most recent school report. Where possible, we encourage prospective pupils to attend a taster day, providing an opportunity for them to experience life at Fettes Prep and for us to get to know them in a classroom and wider school setting.
Places in Pre-Prep (Hive 1 and Hive 2) are offered following attendance at one of our Stay and Play assessment mornings. Places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please contact Admissions for further information.
Charitable status. Fettes College is a registered Scottish Charity, No SC051259