Edinburgh's Fettes College set to open its doors to five-year-olds for the first time

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.

From September 2025, Fettes College in Edinburgh 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. | Big Partnership

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.”

Charlie and Becky Minogue from Fettes College. | Big Partnership

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