Barnton Avenue West, Edinburgh EH4 6HU
10 reasons to choose Cargilfield Preparatory School
Top line
Cargilfield Preparatory School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 89. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Edinburgh and one of the 5 best primary schools for 5 miles.
School fundamentals
Cargilfield Preparatory School is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (60%/40%) between the ages of 3 and 13 years. Boarding from Year 4 for the 20% of pupils who board. All are weekly or flexi boarders. It is a Church of Scotland school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school. Cargilfield Preparatory School fees range from £4,415 (Rec) to £7,290 per term (2024/25). Fees exclude VAT but include lunches.
Average class size
Cargilfield Preparatory School has two classes per year and an average class size of 17 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for Cargilfield Preparatory School leavers are one of 20 day or boarding schools, in Scotland and England. No particular destination dominates. 60% of pupils win awards and scholarships.
The Cargilfield Preparatory School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum. It also includes PSHE, French, Spanish, Latin, Greek. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers and residential trips from Year 7. Outdoor Education Programme for all year groups is adventurous pursuits such as camping, hill walking/Munro Bagging, kayaking, climbing, sailing, and mountain biking.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music and languages throughout, for art from Primary 3, and for most subjects from Primary 5.
Sport at Cargilfield Preparatory School
Five Games sessions per week. School is one of the 50 prep schools with the most extensive sports offers in the UK. Competitive teams in major sports from Primary 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in hockey.
The Arts at Cargilfield Preparatory School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and nearly all take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Primary 3. Two choirs, two pipe bands, a string orchestra, and a further dozen instrument ensembles. Each pupil may participate in up to 10 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.00am to 6.00pm, or 8.00pm for the oldest pupils. Minibus service. Facility for occasional boarding.
Find another school near Cargilfield Preparatory School
ESMS Junior School (4 miles); St George’s School for Girls Junior & Lower (4.3 miles); Fettes Prep (4.3 miles).
The Mary Erskine School (3.5 miles); Stewart’s Melville College (4 miles); St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh (4.3 miles).