Here's a quick A–Z listing of the top independent schools new fees including VAT in Edinburgh and the Lothians. Each entry provides an overview of the school's details, pupil numbers, headteacher, fees (including VAT), and the examinations taken.
Belhaven Hill School
Dunbar, EH42 1NN
01368 862785
What
Co-educational preparatory school, with day and boarding pupils
Who
5-13 years
Total number of pupils
160 (68% boarders) - One Campus
Head
Mr Olly Langton
(Appointed: 2020)
Exams: N/A
Fees Per Annum
From Pre-prep to Upper School:
£16,200– £30,600 (inc VAT)
Boarding £38,400 (inc VAT)
Cargilfield
Barnton, EH4 6HU
0131 336 2207
What
Co-educational nursery and preparatory boarding school, with day pupils, one campus.
Who
3-13 years
Total number of pupils
295 (30% boarders) - One Campus.
Head
Mr Rob Taylor (Appointed: 2014)
Exams N/A
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Junior
£7,905 - £24,600 (inc VAT)
Additional Boarding Fees Range
£1,959 - £5,80 (inc VAT)
Clifton Hall School
Newbridge
0131 333 1359
What
Co-educational nursery, junior and senior day school
Who
3-18 years
Total number of pupils
471 - One Campus
Head
Mr Rod Grant
(Appointed: 2005)
Exams
National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£9,000 - £21,240 (inc VAT)
The Compass School
Haddington
01620 822642
What
Co-educational junior day school with a pre-school year nursery.
Who
4-12 years
Total number of pupils
150 - One Campus
Head
Mr Mark Becher (Appointed: 1997)
Exams: N/A
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Junior
£9,765 - £14,829.78 (inc VAT)
5 . The Edinburgh Academy
Inverleith & Stockbridge
0131 624 4987
What
Co-educational nursery, junior and senior day school.
Who
2-18 years
Total number of pupils
1,160 - Two Campus
Rector
Mr Barry Welsh (Appointed: 2017)
Exams
National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£3,632 - £22,199.34 (inc VAT)
Edinburgh Montessori Arts School
Liberton
0131 600 0123
What
Co-educational nursery, junior school and senior day school
Who
1-18 years
Total number of pupils
118 - One Campus
Principal
Emma Rattigan (Founder: 2006)
Exams
National 5, Higher, GCSE, A Level
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£12,000 - £20,400 (inc VAT)
Edinburgh Steiner School
Morningside 0131 337 3410
What
Co-educational kindergarten, junior and senior day school
Who
2-18 years
Total number of pupils
248 - One Campus
Interim Head of School
Nick Brett
(Appointed: 2024)
Exams
National 5, Higher, GCSE, A Level
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£7,461.60 - £15,141 (inc VAT)
Erskine Stewart Melville
Ravelston 0131 311 1111
What
Co-educational nursery, junior school and senior day school *
Who
3-18 years
Total number of pupils
2,822 - Two Campus*
Principal
Mr Anthony Simpson
(Appointed: 2022)
Exams
National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher
Fees Per Annum
Council funded Nursery
From Primary to Senior
£12,962 - £19,478 (inc VAT)
*NB: The above reflects the change as of August 2026, creating one co-ed school for 3–18-year-olds, named Erskine Stewart Melville. The Mary Erskine School and Stewart’s Melville College Senior Schools will be joining together on our Queensferry Road site and our P4-P7 children will be moving to join the rest of the Junior School and Nursery at our Ravelston site. More information on the changes can be found here.
Fettes College & Prep School
Inverleith 0131 332 2281
What
Co-educational pre-preparatory, pre-preparatory and senior boarding school with day pupils
Who
4-18 years
Total number of pupils
740 - Two Campus
Head
Mrs Helen Harrison
(Appointed: 2019)
Exams
GCSE, A level, International Baccalaureate
Fees Per Annum
From Pre-Prep to Senior Day
£13,950 - £42,225 (inc VAT)
Prep - Senior Boarding
£34,950 - £50,250 (inc VAT)
George Heriot’s School
0131 229 7263
What
Co-educational nursery, junior school and senior day school
Who
4-18 years
Total number of pupils
1,667 - One Campus
Principal
Mr Gareth Warren
(Appointed: 2021)
Exams
National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£11,620 - £20,911 (inc VAT)
11. George Watson’s College
0131 446 6000
What
Co-educational nursery, junior school and senior day school
Who
3-18 years
Total number of pupils
2,443 - One Campus
Head
Ms Lisa Kerr
(Appointed: 2024)
Exams
National 5, Higher, Advanced Higher
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£12,348 - £19,990.80 (inc VAT)
Loretto School
0131 653 4455
What
Co-educational nursery, junior and senior boarding school with day pupils
Who
3-18 years
Total number of pupils
513 - Two Campus
Head
Mr Pete Richardson
(Appointed 2024)
Exams
GCSE, A Level
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£10,872 - £33,822 (inc VAT)
Boarding from Junior to Senior
£30,936 - £49,632 (inc VAT)
The Forest at Merchiston and Merchiston Castle School
0131 312 2200
What
Co-educational nursery, junior and all boys senior boarding school with day pupils
Who
3-18 years
Total number of pupils
390 - One Campus
Head
Mr Jonathan Anderson
(Appointed: 2018)
Exams
GCSE, A Level
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£11,550 - £30,645 (inc VAT)
Boarding from Junior to Senior
£30,936 - £42,255 (inc VAT)
0131 311 8000
What
Co-educational nursery, all girls junior and senior school with boarding
Who
3-18 years
Total number of pupils
675 - One Campus
Head
Mrs Carol Chandler-Thompson
(Appointed: 2022)
Exams
GCSE, Higher, Advanced Higher
Fees Per Annum
From Nursery to Senior
£3,759 - £21,694 (inc VAT)
Boarding Fee Range
£39, 869 - £44,486 (inc VAT)
The data above has been complied February 2025. Information may be subject to change, please verify directly with the school.
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