Cargilfield
Why a prep school?
As a prep school, Cargilfield offers pupils a chance to reap the benefits of a purpose-built environment for younger children and, ultimately, to flourish as one of the oldest pupils in the school with positions of responsibility and significance. Without the presence of much older pupils, Cargilfield can limit the influences that force children to grow up faster than wanted and develop, instead, qualities of courtesy, selfreliance and assurance. Cargilfield prepares girls and boys for the leading independent schools across Edinburgh, Scotland and the whole of the United Kingdom and has no tie to any particular senior school. One of the Headmaster’s key roles is to guide parents towards a school that will best suit their children and their family: a choice that can be made when children are 11 or 12 rather than when they are 3 or 4. We are proud of our recent track record in winning scholarships to some of Britain’s most selective schools but, at Cargilfield, the school takes equal pride in helping children to meet their own targets or achieve places in schools just round the corner.
Small matters
Cargilfield has extensive grounds and a range of state-of-the-art facilities on a single site. This offers a safe, secure and beautiful location in which to teach young children. As a family school, it welcomes a broad range of abilities, but believes that a combination of high expectations with good teaching in small classes (an average class size of about 16 with a maximum of 18) explains its excellent results. As it is not attached to a senior school, children have full use of all facilities without having to make way for older children.
Busy children; happy children
Cargilfield’s girls and boys are busy! They play sport every day and creative activities such as music, drama, art and design are an important part of the curriculum. There are evening and weekend activities and the school also offers over 40 clubs that take place during the longer school day – from fencing to fly tying and everything in between. Children will be given a chance to try everything and discover their strengths. A recently completed new astroturf sports surface will support the school’s recent successes in national hockey finals for both boys and girls.
Tailored boarding
Parents are opting into a boarding experience because they recognise that it’s the best part of school life but also want to have the flexibility to suit their family lives – be it occasional weekends or a regular pattern of one or two nights a week building up to weekly boarding when children are ready for it. At Cargilfield, it is called ‘Tailored Boarding’ and, although it may be more convenient for busy families, they are opting for it because they can see the benefits for their children… who are, after all, the people that are usually driving this choice.
Open morning
The school are sure that every child at Cargilfield is well known and confident of his or her place in their family. If you would like to know more. The school invites you to attend their Open Morning on Friday 4 October: call in anytime between 9am-12noon.