BUSY BEE
The magazine of Fettes Prep 2024-25
Headmaster’s Welcome and Prep Vision
Charlie and Becky Minogue
The life of a busy Prep School can’t easily be summarised, but I hope that this latest edition of Busy Bee gives everyone a flavour of what we get up to at Fettes Prep.
Prep school should be about variety. Not all children can be good at everything, but all children can be good at something, and a Fettes Prep School education gives children the best possible chance of finding something that they can build confidence from. This magazine showcases the many ways in which we do this, and it really is quite extraordinary how varied your children’s school lives are.
For all children to benefit from this breadth, all talents need to be valued and nurtured. At Fettes Prep, we are very focussed on why we include each facet of school life. On the games pitches we play to win but winning is not the only success criterion with the development skills such as collaboration and resilience being important outcomes alongside simply having fun and improving. This same philosophy extends to music and drama where we want all children to take part whilst also pushing our best on to achieve extraordinary things. Children at Fettes Prep are national champions in their sport or are just starting to develop their sporting skills. They might be Grade 8 standard musicians or working towards Grade 1. It doesn’t matter to us, all of this is valued, and I hope you find this magazine reflects our philosophy.
Our skills focus has continued this year with Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Creativity, Resilience and Empathy all being encouraged through our teaching. The inspection in the Spring Term gave us an opportunity to showcase what we do, and I am so pleased that the inspectors noticed the difference in our teaching and its effect on the children. There is plenty more to do but there are also some excellent plans developing to move things on to the next level and we should all be very proud of this point of difference for Fettes Prep.
We have had a significant focus on kindness this year, being proactive to protect this central aspect of our school culture. I am absolutely determined to be on the front foot to keep Fettes Prep as the kindest school it can be with initiatives such as Tech Day for parents designed to achieve this in collaboration with our whole community. There is more to be done but there are more initiatives in the pipeline and I look forward to watching these maintain Fettes Prep as a school that values kindness.
I could go on, but Busy Bee speaks for itself! I hope you enjoy reading it and that the children are proud of everything they have achieved this year. I am certainly proud of them, and of leading this extraordinary school.
Governor’s Message
Hugh Bruce-Watt
It’s
been my privilege to have been a Governor member of the Fettes Prep School Committee since 2016.
As I prepare to write a few words on the past year, I am struck by how each year just seems to get better and better, and the variety and number of activities and achievements in Fettes Prep continues to grow!
I have been delighted to see how all areas of Prep School life have developed following the launch of Charlie’s vision last year. His enthusiasm for driving the school improvement plan forward is clearly reflected in the progress made fostering an environment in which a culture of kindness and inclusivity can flourish.
In addition to the innovative and creative teaching Fettes Prep provides, the range and quality of activities and events at the Prep School is, to me, truly astonishing. This past year we again saw outstanding drama productions - the stage set and costumes alone for both The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were incredible - and with superb acting by the cast, the audiences really were transported to very different worlds in each of these amazing productions. Music has featured fantastically throughout the year with skilled performances and a range of competitions. The creative artwork that decorates the walls in the corridor of William House is testament to the artistic talent of so many of our pupils. Clearly a lot of hard work goes into all these areas as well as core curriculum activities and other events across school life.
Aside from regular Governors’ meetings, visiting the Prep School is always a great pleasure and to be able to see how our community thrives through strong leadership and dedicated teamwork across academic, pastoral care and co-curricular activity is something I value greatly.
Learning
We are not only focussed on what we are learning, but how we are learning, with an increasing emphasis on our pupils developing the skills of critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, resilience and empathy. In the photo above our pupils enjoy puzzling out some maths rules, evaluating evidence and drawing conclusions whilst being assessed on their collaboration. This embeds the skills into their learning and makes it huge fun.
Fettes Prep Skills
TAKING FLIGHT
At Fettes Prep School, education is not just about preparing pupils for the next stage of schooling, it’s about preparing them for life. That vision is now taking shape through the launch of the school’s skills programme. Designed to help pupils grow not only academically but personally and socially, this initiative draws together key developmental ideas under one unifying banner: the skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
FIVE CORE SKILLS
The skills programme emerged from a simple but powerful idea: children should leave prep school not just with knowledge, but with the tools and values to lead, collaborate, and care. With this in mind, Fettes identified five core skills that would underpin the programme - empathy, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and resilience.
These aren’t just buzzwords. They are taught explicitly, embedded into daily learning, and nurtured with the same care and ambition as maths or literacy. Plans are also underway to develop ways of tracking and assessing these skills, ensuring that pupils’ growth in these areas is visible, meaningful, and supported over time.
ENCOURAGING KINDNESS
From the start, kindness - a natural extension of empathy - was positioned as the heartbeat of the programme. It is kindness that grounds learning in purpose. It is kindness that shapes confident, compassionate pupils who are as capable of listening as they are of leading. This distinctive approach recently prompted The Times to describe Fettes Prep as “the school that puts kindness at the heart of its curriculum.” In classrooms and corridors, kindness is not left to chance - it is taught, encouraged, and practised daily. Pupils are given regular opportunities to reflect on their behaviour, support their peers, and take initiative through thoughtful actions. Whether it’s mentoring younger pupils, helping in the local community, or simply offering a kind word when it’s needed most, these everyday moments of service are recognised as essential steps in each child’s development.
THE SKILLS JOURNEY
Much like bees working in harmony within a hive before taking flight, Fettes Prep pupils build a strong foundation in skills and behaviours before they soar. The metaphor resonates deeply with the school’s culture - structured, purposeful, and always looking ahead. Each pupil learns not just to spread their wings, but to do so with direction, courage, and care.
THE FETTES PREP SKILLS IS ABOUT MORE...
Ultimately, our Fettes Skills are more than a curriculum enhancement - it is a declaration of intent. It says clearly that who a child becomes matters just as much as what they achieve. In a time when society is rediscovering the importance of character, Fettes Prep is ensuring its pupils are ready not just to succeed, but to lead with heart.
Boarding Life
ARRAN HOUSE
It has been a great year in the Arran family in so many ways. From brilliant musical, theatrical, academic and sporting performances to camping, cooking, singing, running, cycling, wide games, drawing, Lego, painting, bouncing, swimming, climbing mountains and doing things that the boys never thought they could do… the list could go on and on. The boys’ CAN! Togetherness and family are what we are about and to have these activity opportunities as a house every week has been invaluable in helping the boys grow and bond, no matter what age each boy is.
Arran is a very happy place and each and every boy has gold in their hearts and have potential to do great things. We have talked a lot this year about the little things and if we can get these right, big things come naturally. Respect, humility and trust are huge things in the Arran family and indeed, in life and I hope every boy can take great learnings from the many experiences in Arran this year. I wish all our leavers the very best as they move onto the next chapter in their education and I am sure they will leave with so many positive memories of Arran and friendships to last a lifetime.
ARRAN HOUSECHALLENGE
This year, the boys achieved some unbelievable feats. In the Autumn term, the whole house climbed the seven hills of Edinburgh in a weekend. What an amazing accomplishment with so much positive spirit on show throughout the weekend. In the Spring term, our challenge was slightly different! We took a trip to Manchester and Liverpool to get private tours of Manchester City’s stadium and Liverpool’s stadium, plus taking in a professional ice hockey match! Football in Arran this year is very popular, and for the boys to see these stadiums and how professional football works from the inside was very special.
During the summer term, the boys raised a huge amount of money for two charities by playing 12 hours of football on bigside! This was incredibly humbling and inspiring – the boys were fantastic all day and it is safe to say that the house was very quiet at 8pm that night! The 2nd challenge was to climb Ben Nevis – the highest mountain in Britain…..to be continued….
IONA HOUSE
It has been a superb year in Iona and while trips are great, it is also nice to make the most of the beautiful surroundings that we live in and the Summer Term gives opportunity with the lighter evenings to head outside and play some games –with rounders being a big favourite. Food always provides an opportunity to gather together and we have enjoyed pizza and sushi making evenings, birthday cakes, bubble tea, pancakes and pumpkin pie during the year – something for everyone!
IONA HOUSEOUT AND ABOUT
There are some of our weekly Sunday trips that we return to each year as we love them so much and they provide great memories – such as a trip to the Panto at Christmas and getting creative painting plates/mugs in South Queensferry. However, it is also great to try new things and this year we visited Craigie’s Farm to pick pumpkins, dashed around Aquadash and had a go at some waterskiing, which some of the boarders took to with ease!
IONA HOUSECHALLENGE
Our Iona Adventures allow a chance to spend time together as a house without the distractions of life at school. In September we camped in Stirlingshire and enjoyed some rolling around in Zorb suits, axe archery, paintballing and sitting around the campfire. Our Spring Term weekend featured a tour around Edinburgh, a sleepover in the assembly hall, a cook school day and some karaoke and we are looking forward to our challenge this term of climbing Ben Nevis.
School Life
REMEMBRANCE DAY
On the second Saturday of November we attended Chapel to take part in a poignant Remembrance Service led by our Chaplain. As pupils and parents walked to Chapel poppies were laid on the Queen’s Lawn whilst names of past pupils were read aloud, these were names of those who served and those who had sacrificed their lives in the Great War.
BONFIRE NIGHT
Our night began with party games within our year group followed by a tasty BBQ. It was a cold clear night, perfect conditions for a bonfire and fireworks. We all set off to Youngs to enjoy an excellent display of Fireworks which Mr Hall coordinated. It was a wonderful show marvelled and enjoyed by everyone.
‘We will Remember Them.’
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
Wearing our Christmas jumpers and in festive spirit the Prep School pupils and staff enjoyed a traditional Christmas dinner at the end of Autumn term. We all enjoyed good company, pulled crackers and Christmas tunes were played…and sung! Our Chefs did not disappoint with delicious Christmas delights with all the trimmings. Christmas celebrations had truly begun as we headed into the holiday season.
FIELD DAY
Pupils across the Prep School enjoyed a range of enriching educational visits. The 2nd Form visited Mary King’s Close and took part in a treasure hunt along the Royal Mile, before completing a follow-up project exploring life in 16th-century Edinburgh as part of their History curriculum. The 1st Form had an exciting visit to the Glasgow Science Centre, while T Form pupils took part in a combined Science and Geography field trip to the Pentland Hills, supporting their learning from across the term. S Form enjoyed a trip to Inchcolm Island, and pupils in M Form and P Form came together for a memorable group visit to Edinburgh Zoo.
WORLD BOOK DAY
Our World Book Day celebration at Fettes Prep was a FANTASTIC day filled with books, costumes, competitions, and joyful silliness! The fun kicked off with a fabulous literary fashion show, where each costume was more impressive than the last - who knew literature could be so stylish?
Throughout the day, pupils took part in book-themed competitions. ‘Guess the Teacher’s Bookshelf’ was a firm favourite (and surprisingly tricky!), and our Guinness World Record plank challenge tested everyone’s strength and determination - tough, but brilliant fun!
Two mystery prizes added extra excitement: a tray of doughnuts for the class that read the most books, and a house challenge awarding 30 points to the most well-read house. It was a wonderful day of laughter, creativity, and a shared love of reading - one we won’t forget anytime soon!
CHARITY RUNS
Fettes Charity Runs were a little different this year, as we adopted a friendly inter-house competition! This year each house chose a charity and a theme to run for and dress up as.
Arkell chose to fundraise for the Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, which is undertaking vital research into motor neurone disease. In line with brains, their theme of the day was crazy hair and headwear.
Bryce came together to raise funds for the Teapot Trust, which provides much needed art therapy to children and families living with long term health conditions. To tap into their artistic sensibilities, their theme was ‘Brighten Up Your Day’ or a splash of colour.
Last, but not least, Potts chose to partner with Child Bereavement UK, who provide support to families facing grief as well as training for social and mental health professionals. Like the people doing this challenging work, they went with a theme of heroes.
The children looked great in their costumes, and the event raised funds for three amazing charities!
LANGUAGES WEEK 2025
Languages Week 2025 at the end of February was a fantastic celebration of international culture, communication, and curiosity. Pupils got involved in a wonderful programme of events that highlighted the importance and fun of learning languages, all in support of the national #ScotlandLovesLanguages campaign.
There were multiple events such as pupil DLT takeover, Chinese calligraphy with some wonderful parent helpers, and a foreign language disco on the Astro!
Throughout the week, a series of engaging House Competitions took place. These included:
Our Fettes Prep Duolingo league: with eight languages available to learn, we competed to earn the most XP and even made it into the 1000s!
Creating a video in a language of their choice and recording it on our whole-school Padlet.
A creative task that invited pupils to design posters or displays celebrating languages spoken around the world, showcasing both artistic flair and thoughtful messaging.
On Friday, the school came alive in our Languages Celebration Day. We dressed up in cultural dress or something that represented a country or language of our choice. Also, we had an assembly where we gave our reasons for loving languages and why they mean so much to us. Some of us even managed to say this in another language which was truly impressive!
This memorable week not only broadened our understanding of world languages but also brought the whole Fettes Prep community together in celebration of connection, culture, and communication.
With languages, you are at home anywhere
Edward de Waal
The Arts
- Music, Piping & Drumming, Drama, Art
ART
M, P, S Forms
M Form explored the life and work of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Pupils developed skills in creativity, printing, and 3D work, taking inspiration from her iconic polka dots.
P Form completed their sculpture projects before beginning a mini topic on flowers. Pupils explored flower anatomy, developed their observational drawing skills, and translated these into expressive and creative painting outcomes.
S Form used Lego as their theme to explore a range of new artistic skills and techniques. They began by studying viewpoint and perspective to accurately capture the shapes of Lego bricks. Pupils then imprinted Lego into clay tiles to create textured patterns, which they used to learn the technique of mono printing. The project encouraged creativity, focus, and plenty of artistic fun!
1st, 2nd Forms
T Form have developed their observational drawing skills and learned how to scale up their work. They explored a range of media including charcoal and paint, resulting in bold, expressive pieces that show growing confidence and skill.
1st Form worked on a mini unit focused on observational plant drawing and explored the colour palette of artist Paul Klee. They used this study to inspire their own abstract compositions, drawing from the intricate shapes of a Monstera leaf.
2nd Form explored observational drawing and developed their skills by studying natural forms, particularly shells. They experimented with techniques such as rubbing, layering, and collage, which led to a creative and individual mixed media outcome.
SUMMER EXHIBITION
It was another fabulous year in the Art department and the Summer Exhibition was a showcase for all the wonderful work created by our pupils. Each pupil had a piece in the exhibition which ranged from print to painting, collage to clay, painting to paper fashion, and sculpture to mixed media; pupils even ‘cooked’ up some ceramic noodles! The halls of William House were put to good use as pieces were hung from every available surface, the variety of scale added visual interest, as did the colours and textures across mediums.
DRAMA - ‘CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY’
In this heartwarming and wonderfully imaginative production, every pupil in 1st and 2nd Form helped bring Roald Dahl’s fantastic tale to life on stage. Assisted by a commendably keen crew, the cast members committed themselves to an accomplished delivery, which exuded charm, creativity, and a contagious sense of joy.
The audience was transported into the whacky world of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, where astonishing events occurred, as a chocolate river (and life lessons!) flowed in abundance. The set featured a striking collection of large spheres, offering a fabulous burst of colour, and a delightful sweet-stall, with the overall design allowing a sharp contrast with the Bucket family’s humble home. The costumes were a visual feast, ranging from confectionery related clothing for Wonka’s workers, to martial arts-based styling for the set of squirrels, and the glorious goose puppets, adding to the whole spectacle. The fluid scene changes were accompanied by culinary-related catchy tunes, and there was a successful inclusion of selected songs, either effectively presented by the ensemble or beautifully sung by some skilful cast members.
The show certainly exemplified individual talent, whilst also showing the power of a strong collaboration and collective commitment. Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for, as an audience member put it, ‘a truly dazzling production!’
DRAMA - ‘THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE’
Our Christmas production, involving every member of M, P and S Form, was very special in many ways. Adapted from C.S. Lewis’s beloved classic, the performance showcased the vibrant and commendable talent of our youngest pupils, whilst enchanting an appreciative audience.
We were immersed in the magical realm of Narnia, through a beautiful set, including an icy white woodland, a glimmering lamppost, and - above the iconic wardrobe - the stunning figurehead of the glorious Aslan. The magnanimous hero was an extraordinary sculpture, made with incredible artistry, and brought to life with marvellous vocalisation. The captivating effect of the production was further enhanced by evocative music, atmospheric lighting and a glorious array of costumes, portraying the famous fantastical world.
The cast members performed with poise, charisma and a depth of ability beyond their young years.
This adaptation was carefully crafted to both suit and stretch the performers, with the use of some challenging theatrical techniques such as co-ordinated ensemble responses, movement to music, slow motion and split-staging.
We are grateful to all our young performers, who shone throughout their time on stage, in a memorable presentation of this splendid and salutary story.
MUSIC
The Autumn Term was jam-packed with musical events showcasing the enthusiasm and exceptional talents of our children. The Harvest and Remembrance Services were poignant occasions as always, with beautiful singing from the choirs and some lovely instrumental solos.
Our Autumn Concert was another resounding success, featuring all our instrumental ensembles. The children’s superb playing and incredible teamwork raised the roof!
Another highlight was ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Carol Service held at Canongate Kirk, where the stunning performances from the Chamber Choir and Choral Society left an indelible impression, ushering in the first magic of the festive season.
The term concluded with our special Prep School Carol Service, where all choirs united in song, bringing joy and a sense of community to the end of term.
The Spring Term began with a visit from our friends Julie and Nick from Worldwide Woodwind Workshops. The dynamic duo led a series of inspiring instrumental workshops, which concluded with a fantastic concert for parents.
Next we hosted an extraordinary Singing Competition, where our talented finalists delivered wonderful and confident performances, giving the audience a truly joyful evening of song. We were delighted to welcome the renowned composer Alexander L’Estrange, who led an engaging day of workshops, culminating in an exuberant performance of his cantata ‘Ahoy! Sing For The Mary Rose’. The entire Prep School, alongside enthusiastic parents, staff, and Old Fettesians, came together to sing their hearts out, delivering spirited renditions of jaunty sea shanties and Tudor songs, all accompanied by a live band and showcasing some impressive choreography.
A very busy and musically vibrant Summer Term followed. Our Chamber Choir singers visited Charlotte Chapel’s Seniors’ Lunch Club, bringing joy to the members as they shared uplifting hymns and songs. Our Piano and Instrumental Competitions showcased truly beautiful performances; a huge ‘well done!’ to all our finalists for their confidence and musicality.
The Summer Concert served as a perfect conclusion to the school year, with all choirs and instrumental ensembles coming together for a glorious musical finale!
MUSICSCOTTISH OPERA
The Scottish Opera team returned to help us dazzle the audience with a dramatic rendition of ‘The Tale o’ Tam’, featuring our M, P, S, and T Form pupils resplendent in stunning costumes, singing with gusto and character! The Informal Concerts were a big hit again this year, boasting a record number of performances, while the summer music exams yielded impressive results with numerous passes, merits, and distinctions for our Prep School pupils.
Co-curricular Activities
SUMMER TRIPS
With exams behind them, pupils eagerly looked forward to the much-anticipated end-of-term trips. Both 1st Form and S Form enjoyed exciting overnight camps. S Form headed to Wild Outdoors at Nisbet Farm near Jedburgh for two adventure-filled days, where they learned valuable life skills such as building shelters and fires, cooking their own meals, and playing thrilling games of hide and seek in ghillie suits. Meanwhile, 1st Form spent their time at Dounan’s Centre in Aberfoyle, taking part in team-building activities like archery, scrambling, and tree climbing.
Closer to home, M and P Forms had a fantastic day at East Links Country Park, full of laughter and play. T Form celebrated with pizza and ice cream on sunny Portobello Beach, while 2nd Form enjoyed a day paddling along the Union Canal and another relaxing day at Yellowcraigs Beach.
Sport
RUGBY
Rugby in the prep school is about development of the person as much as the development of the player no matter what ability they are at. We also want to light a spark in our pupils to love the game, be this in a touch or a contact format. This year, it has been wonderful to introduce many new players from U9 to U13 to the game of rugby and to see them learning the technicalities of the game with a smile on their faces has been wonderful to see.
The players who already know the game have improved immeasurably and have taken on many learnings which I hope will be of benefit to them next year and beyond. There have been some brilliantly contested fixtures across all year groups where guile, huge skill, willpower and resilience have been abundant. This game has huge benefits not only on the field but off the field too where the values of respect, honesty and humility hold the utmost importance. These are life values and something that we will continue to push here at Fettes alongside technical skill and a freedom to play. Well done to all our rugby players this year and remember, better people make better players.
NETBALL
We are incredibly proud of our U13 girls’ netball team, who became the 2025 Scottish Cup Champions after a thrilling victory over Royal High School. The final took place at the prestigious Emirates Arena in Glasgow, where our team showcased outstanding skill, determination, and teamwork. In a fiercely contested match, the girls held their nerve and delivered a superb performance, securing a well-deserved 29–22 win. From the first whistle to the final moments, every player gave it their all, demonstrating not only technical ability but also the spirit and sportsmanship that defines our school. Their hard work during training, unwavering team spirit, and support from coaches and families have all contributed to this memorable success!
FOOTBALL
The Spring term brought about a couple of matches for our U13s and U11s v George Heriots and Edinburgh Academy. The U13s played 11 aside on our big pitch and what a game it was with some unbelievable goals scored! The love of football at Fettes is very evident and it has been great to see so much football being played around school. Arran house completed a 12 hour charity match too! We also hosted our own U11 indoor tournament which is always a great success with local schools from around the area coming to compete in Westwoods.
CRICKET - BOYS, GIRLS AND MIXED TEAMS
It has been a wonderful summer term for cricket – the weather was unbelievable for most of the term and huge strides were made with many individuals and teams.
The U9s have a great understanding of how cricket works but a highlight has been the performance of their bowling. It is a tough technique to master and our U9 warriors have done so well!
The U11 group have moved forward and there are a large number of girls and boys prepared for hardball cricket now. Decision making between the creases was a big target for this group and seeing the amount of runs that many batting pairs made in fixtures was testament to this decision making.
Our U13 girls and boys have worked hard and have shown improvement in every fixture. There were some tough fixtures this year with some huge learnings to take from them. Well done, everyone and roll on next year!
CROSS COUNTRY
Our pupils trained diligently throughout the season and were well-prepared for the range of cross country events during the Spring term. The House Cross Country remained as fiercely competitive as ever, with everyone giving their all in support of their House. Fettes Prep was proudly represented at the Scottish Independent Schools’ Invitational Cross Country Competition, where our runners embraced the challenge and enjoyed the new course introduced this year.
SPORTS DAY
Sports Day being moved to the last day before summer halfterm was a resounding success this year, as the weather held up and the sun was shining! Despite a long week of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory performances, the pupils still gave the competition their all and fought hard for their Houses and points. There was a good balance between fun runs and athletic competition, but the children were sure to give their whole effort. Parents were also able to get involved, and the parents and staff tug of war match was a real nail bitter.
2nd Form Leavers 2025
This year marked the first time the 2nd Form created a Leavers’ Yearbook. With the support of staff and Friends of Fettes Prep volunteers, pupils came together to celebrate their achievements and reflect on the highlights of the year. Each pupil used their creativity and computer skills to design an “All About Me” page, featuring photos, quotes, and memories that capture their time in the Prep School. One of the prompts invited pupils to share their favourite memory from their years at Fettes, and we are delighted to share a selection of these with you here.
The night before Netball IAPS in England when all of our team sat around the table together and played cards
My favourite memory in the prep school is beating Strathallan at home in rugby
My favourite thing at Fettes prep are the people. The teachers are kind and my friends are fun
My best school memory is the 1st Form camp because we did really fun activities
My favourite school memory was the Ardvreck sevens because we got to play a lot of rugby and it was fun
My favourite moments from school are reading in the library with just me and Mrs Weatherby
Advice for younger students:
I would tell the younger students that’s there is no rush to grow up and be in 2nd Form, because soon enough you will be the youngest year group in the college again
My favourite memory is the 2nd Form trip to the Lake District, it was really fun we did water sport, tree trampoline and a cricket match
Going on all of the sports trips because it was so fun having a night away with all of your friends
My favourite memory is the 1st Form Arran and Iona challenge
My favourite memory in school was when the U13B set off to Strathallan to play a netball match and we were singing APT. on the bus
T Form beach trip and 2nd Form History trip
LEAVERS’ DINNER AND DISCO
The 2nd Form Leavers’ Dinner and Disco was a truly special occasion, celebrating the end of their Prep School days and the exciting new chapter ahead. The afternoon began with some welcome drinks and photos with friends, parents and a staff. It was a joyful opportunity to capture memories and reflect on their time together. The Dining Hall, beautifully decorated for the occasion, set the scene for a delicious meal enjoyed by all, filled with laughter, stories and a wonderful sense of community. After dinner, everyone gathered in the PAH for a heartfelt slideshow featuring photos of the pupils throughout their years at the Prep School. The photos brought smiles, laughter and a few happy tears as the leavers looked back at how much they had all grown. The evening concluded with dancing and celebration as the pupils made the most of their final moments together. A perfect ending to their Prep School journey.
PRIZEGIVING
Our annual Prizegiving marked the end of a busy and wonderful school year, filled with hard work, achievement and joy. The event was a true celebration of everything the pupils have accomplished both in and out of the classroom. Families, friends and staff gathered to recognise the dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm shown by the children throughout the year.
A highlight of the day was hearing from our fantastic guest speaker, Ali Paul (OF), who shared inspiring insights into his career in law as well as his experiences as a member of the very successful band Elliot Minor. His words encouraged pupils to embrace their passions, work hard and stay curious about the world around them.
Prizes and awards were presented to pupils, recognising creativity, sportsmanship, and community spirit. The occasion also gave us the opportunity to say a fond farewell to our 2nd Form, who are all moving on to the next chapter of their lives. We wish them every success as they take this exciting next step.
The day was a fitting conclusion to a year full of learning, laughter and growth. A wonderful celebration and a perfect way to end the school year.
Education Scotland Inspection
‘Outstanding Curriculum’ Education Scotland
‘In the prep school... children and young people are developing as critical thinkers who problem solve and make rational decisions in numerous areas’.
‘Teachers are implementing a shared approach to improve learning and teaching through a consistent approach to developing skills’.
‘Staff’s strong collaborative approach supports very effective curricular transition between the prep and senior school’.
Sector leading x2 top grades of ‘Excellent’
Curriculum
Excellent
Raising attainment and achievement
Excellent
Learning, teaching, and assessment
Very Good
Ensuring wellbeing, equality and inclusion
Very Good
