Prep schools in Scotland

[Helpmechooseaprepschool]

2026 intake so we still have plenty of time and on the waiting lists for both Belhaven and Cargilfield. Can anyone offer any insights into either school from their own experience?

We live much closer to Belhaven so it's the obvious choice and we really like the school, it has a much more cosy feel to it that Cargilfield. However, there is something about Cargilfield that keeps pulling me back.

My family own a flat in Edinburgh that we could use during the week if we went to Cargilfield to cut down the commute but are there any kids from East Lothian at Cargilfield? DD could board further up the school but not in the early years.

Any help would be appreciated, we have visited both schools, love both schools. Belhaven have extra holidays which is a bit of extra hassle but we can make it work.

Where do you feel your child would fit in best? If either I would go with Belhaven if it’s closest as less stress all round . Likely if it’s close then there will other parents nearby who you can share lifts with and other help .

@annabelindajane dd is too young for me to be able to say for sure which school would be the best fit so if they were both the same distance, I would go for Cargilfield. Cargilfield has around 300 pupils to Belhaven's 150 so it will have to cater for a wider variety of child and it offers more choice in terms of subjects and activities. Having parents closer by at Belhaven would be nice though and thats another pull.

My DD isn't privately educated however I'd go for closest school purely for the social aspect. Different if they end up boarding but things like birthday parties play dates etc are easier if you are closer.

@Bluecarnations dd is my first child, could you let me know roughly how often children see friends socially in the younger years? Does it tend to be weekends mostly?

Also worth considering Loretto. Local to East Lothian and offers many extra curriculars whilst also having a lovely feel. Advantage is that there is senior school provision too, so continuity later on.

In my experience yes usually weekends, however sometimes in P1 DD would go to a friends for dinner after school, or the girls would go to the same club I.e. Rainbows & I would share runs with the parents. Not a huge issue but worth considering. There's probably a difference at private school as kids are likely to live all over rather than in catchment so may not be as big of an issue.

@gavisconismyfriend do you have kids at Loretto? If so, did you view Belhaven or Cargilfield and felt it had the same feel to it? The thing that puts me off is Loretto being an all through school. I don't know where dd's interests will lie as she grows up and if Loretto senior school is not the right fit for her she won't be prepped to apply for another school and she would probably be one of only a few leaving.

Do not underestimate how much of a faff it is to get your kids to school in the morning, especially if it means having to live in two separate houses.

Guaranteed you would leave something you need in the wrong house.

I would go for the closer school, you tend to encourage friendship groups with children who live closer. Parents do not like spending weekends driving throughout Lothian. If you preferred Cargifield could you move closer?

@Doublethecuddles thanks, seems conclusive from the comments! We don't want to move so maybe you are all right.

It would be good to hear from anyone who has/had kids at Belhaven?

I will say the cargilfield catchment is larger than most, so the parents there will spend all weekend (and weekday morning and evenings) driving the kids around, until they are old enough to board.

Even at Heriots we spend our weekends ferrying the kids around. But I couldn’t do that during the week too

@Ginny98 thanks, this was sort of the path i had in my head.

Out of interest, are there many kids at Heriots Juniors from East Lothian?

Oh my goodness, just send her to the local primary and save yourself the headache.

@Helpmechooseaprepschool not East Lothian no, but a fair few from Midlothian.

But it definitely wouldn’t be a barrier to weekend socialising (although the thought of getting in from East Lothian for an 8.30 start makes me feel a bit sick)

I realise this is discussion has been quiet for over six months but @OP if you are still undecided and in case it's useful, Cargilfield runs daily buses in the morning from all over the Lothians and Fife. It's a lot for the first few weeks of nursery but there are nursery children on it and they quickly make friends - it takes the pressure of a lot of families who aren't super local at least some of the week.