Information for Forces Families

information for forces families

full boarding ethos

Fettes College is a full boarding school with over 70% of our pupils boarding in the College and over 20% boarding in the Prep School. Full boarding means that there is no exodus of pupils at the weekend, so your children’s friends are with them throughout the week and weekend.

“Two of my four children have finished their education at Fettes, and I asked them for their candid opinion of their experience. They both said that if they could go back and do it all over again, they would in a heartbeat.”

current forces

parent

In the Prep School, we have one boys’ house and one girls’ house while in the Senior School we have four boys’ houses and four girls’ houses alongside our Upper Sixth Form house for final year students which is co-educational. All our boarding houses are warm and welcoming, led by an incredible team of Houseparents devoted to the children in their care.

Our boarding houses become a home away from home in term time and each member of the house staff team plays a vital role in providing this environment.

At both the Prep and Senior School, our working week includes Saturday morning lessons and a full weekend of trips and activities, fixtures and outings. We also ensure that your child has time to relax and simply enjoy being with friends, whether that be a later brunch on Sunday or taking a trip in to town (for those in the Senior School).

continuity of care

We understand that many forces families want their children to board at the same school and as Fettes is co-educational and caters for children from 7-18, siblings can be educated together in this family environment.

Fettes College and Fettes Prep have distinct identities, but enjoy the benefit of sharing many facilities, providing opportunities for younger and older siblings to see each other and a reassuring familiarity and excitement for the transition up to the College at aged 13.

The Prep School Curriculum sets a strong foundation for future academic endeavours. Once your child moves into the College, they will follow the English examination system of GCSE and either A Level or the International Baccalaureate (IB).

“The care that is taken to treat our children as individuals is something we are very grateful for. Military children need continuity and stability and that is provided for them on every level at Fettes.”

current forces

parent

pastoral care

The care and welfare of our students is of fundamental importance to us and we are proud that our pastoral care has been described as sector-leading.

Each member of the Fettes staff fulfils a unique role in the educational, moral and social development of your child to ensure their time with us is a positive, thriving, happy one.

Pupils from forces families may have specific concerns, particularly if their parents are posted overseas. Experience shows us that children react in their own ways and we recognise that our job is to be aware of their feelings and tailor our support for them accordingly.

current forces pupil

“It’s great to come back to the House after a busy day in school and catch up with my friends.”

experience with forces families

We are proud of our long history with the forces and these links are as strong today as they ever were. We have a number of former members of the forces working here at Fettes and a strong network of current forces families.

“We chose Fettes specifically for the full boarding ethos, for the acclaimed pastoral care and the understanding and support they give to Forces children. After nine years and counting, we are immensely grateful for all they have done for them.” current forces parent

We undertake surveys, lunch meetings and discussion sessions with forces parents and pupils to ensure we are doing all we can to support them. We feel that this breadth of experience gives us a unique insight into the life of forces families and enables us to provide the highest quality of pastoral support, particularly key during times when families may be moving between postings or a parent is on operations abroad.

We understand the need for flexibility; whether this is simply in ensuring that our pupils are able to communicate with their families wherever they are in the world or in travel arrangements at our Recommended Leave weekends.

Our five annual Leave Out weekends are voluntary so if these present logistical difficulties, we can pair your children with friends or look after them in the boarding house

college and prep faqs

How big are our class sizes?

COLLEGE

One of our main aims at the College is to keep class sizes small with an average of 16-18 per class.

What does a Fettes weekend look like?

COLLEGE

PREP SCHOOL

The maximum class size in the Prep School is 18.

As a full boarding school, we have lessons on Saturday mornings, matches and other activities on Saturday afternoons and a full schedule of events and outings on Saturday evenings. Sundays in the College have no fixed social activities but instead are set aside for rest and relaxation, starting with a lie-in and brunch.

PREP SCHOOL

We have Saturday school at Fettes Prep, so it’s normal lessons and routines until midday and then we all head to Chapel. Following the service, lunch and prep (homework), the fun activities programme starts. Our weekend activities could include anything from adventure outings and challenges in the north of Scotland and beyond, to being creative in the art room, a house cinema trip, or testing our climbing skills.

What is our policy on the use of electronic equipment?

COLLEGE

Although students are allowed mobile phones with them throughout the school day (as they are used as part of our digital learning strategy), they are not allowed when walking round campus or in the Dining Hall. This is because we want our students to look each other in the eye and talk to each other instead of being fixated on a screen. Therefore, although they will have their phones on them, the best times to communicate are at the end of the day once prep has been done.

What happens with homework? COLLEGE

Independent study is the real backbone of academic success and at Fettes this largely means prep. With determination, good study habits, a superb tutoring system, and discipline to always seek help when they do not understand, pupils will do well. The House routine seeks to provide a positive environment for private study.

PREP SCHOOL

Pupils do not have their mobile phones with them during the working day. If you are posted to a different time zone, we will accommodate this and ensure that there is a time during the day when your son or daughter can contact you.

During the evening, boarders have access to their phones and tablets once they have completed their jobs for the day. They have these with them for a maximum of an hour during the evening and their use is limited to communal areas. If the boarders want to make a Skype or WhatsApp call, there are private areas in House where they can do this.

PREP SCHOOL

At Fettes we call homework ‘prep’. Our pupils are given from 30 minutes to 1 hour of prep each night, depending on their age. This is completed under supervised conditions and should there still be a little left to do once the boarders head back to House, the on-duty tutor or Houseparent is always available to help.

What is the food like?

COLLEGE

Fettes College has recently been awarded Independent School of the Year for healthy eating. Our catering team pride themselves on making food which is wholesome, flavoursome and fun with our 2000+ daily meals created on-site.

Can I come and see my child outside of the usual termly breaks?

COLLEGE

Due to our full boarding ethos it is important that term dates are adhered to closely. As both day and boarding students are members of a House, there are numerous occasions for parents to come into house and socialise, whether that be a coffee morning, kitchen supper, drinks or an invitation to a large-scale event or charity fund-raiser.

PREP SCHOOL

The Prep School uses the same dining facilities as the College, but we take an earlier lunch break and our staff and pupils eat their lunch at the same tables. We have a food committee that puts forward comments and suggestions to our award-winning catering team and boarders always have input to this.

PREP SCHOOL

In addition to the usual Recommended Leave and termly breaks, you are welcome to come to fixtures and join us for our weekly Chapel service on Saturdays at 12:30pm. If you are visiting Edinburgh, you are also able to take you son or daughter out for tea leave from 5:00pm.

What Fee Remission do we offer to Forces Families?

We offer a tiered remission to HM Forces families* based on year group and rank. This is applied as follows:

• In the Prep School - 15% remission

• In the Senior School - 20% remission (25% remission is available to Lieutenant, Captain, Flight Lieutenant or below.)

• No other remission will be available and scholarships awarded will be entirely honorary with no financial benefit.

We will require evidence of eligibility.

*Those parents who qualify for CEA by virtue of other Foreign Office overseas postings should contact the Bursar for further information on the level of remission being offered.

All fee reductions are coordinated through the Bursar’s Office. Please contact Bursarsoffice@fettes.com for more information.

Why Forces Families choose Fettes

We have had a great deal of experience with Forces families and believe that the education and Pastoral Care that we offer is of the very highest quality. We are in the unique position of being a coeducational full boarding school with easy access to all the attractions of Scotland’s Capital City, whilst at the same time being in reach of the vast and beautiful Scottish countryside.

getting to edinburgh

At Fettes, we have the best of both worlds because not only do we live in a beautiful, leafy 100 acre campus with all facilities on-site, but we are located in the heart of Edinburgh, one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world.

Edinburgh provides us with an exhilarating array of cultural facilities such as galleries, theatres and sporting venues but only a short drive away lies the magnificent Scottish countryside, giving students the freedom to sail, climb, walk, ski and cycle.

Getting to Edinburgh from all over the UK as well as internationally is far easier than you may think given our proximity to the airport and train station, both just a short taxi ride away.

Our Airport Transfer Service means that we will assist with the travel arrangements to and from school with Prep pupils accompanied by Fettes staff to the check-in gate (and waiting at the airport until the flight has left) and ready and waiting for them on the return journey.

Direct quotations and feedback from recent surveys have contributed to the content of this brochure and we thank all our current forces families for their valuable input.