Fettes College

Name

Fettes College

Legal name

Fettes College

Website

https://fettes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1870

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent School Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Boarding Schools (EDAJABAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• Independent boarding school
• Day school education
• Preparatory school
• International baccalaureate education
• Pastoral care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Edinburgh

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Academic Fees - Boarding: Full boarding students (ages 13-18) pay comprehensive termly fees covering all academic lessons, sports coaching, boarding accommodation, meals, medical centre access, weekend activities programme, and co-curricular participation. Senior School (13-18 years) fees are £18,850 per term (inclusive of VAT). Prep School boarders (7-13 years) pay £12,900 per term (inclusive of VAT).
2. Academic Fees - Day Students: Day students pay reduced fees covering academic lessons, meals, wraparound care, and co-curricular activities. Prep School day pupils (7-13 years) pay £8,800 per term (inclusive of VAT). Pre-Prep (5-7 years) fees are £5,175 per term (inclusive of VAT).
3. Fettes Shop - Uniform and Merchandise: The on-campus school shop managed by the school sells school uniform, sportswear, equipment, academic books, stationery, branded gifts, toiletries, and confectionery. Sales charged to school bill with detailed invoice sent to parents at term end. Second-hand 'Thrift Shop' available with proceeds supporting Boarding House projects.
4. Sports Facilities Hire: Westwoods Sports Centre and outdoor sports facilities available for external hire through Fettes Enterprises.
5. Summer Residential Lets: Campus facilities available for summer residential lettings during school holiday periods.
6. Fettes Centre for Language & Culture (FCLC): Language and cultural programmes offered through Fettes Enterprises division.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Fettes College delivers independent co-educational boarding and day education for students aged 5-18 across its Senior School (13-18) and Prep School (5-13), with full boarding ethos, GCSE and dual A Level/IB Sixth Form pathways, sector-leading pastoral care, and 60+ co-curricular activities. The school also operates Fettes Enterprises, providing commercial services including uniform retail, health club membership, language and cultural programmes, sports facilities hire, summer residential lets, and international student services.

Product overview

Fettes College operates as an independent co-educational boarding and day school offering education from ages 5-18 through its Senior School (ages 13-18) and Prep School (ages 5-13). The institution provides a comprehensive educational offering with full boarding ethos, GCSE and dual A Level/IB Sixth Form pathways, and over 60 co-curricular activities. Beyond its core educational services, Fettes College extends its operations through commercial enterprises including the Fettes Shop (uniform and merchandise), Westwoods Health Club (public fitness facilities), Cafe Refresh, the Fettes Centre for Language & Culture (FCLC), Fettes College International, Summer Residential Lets, and Sports Facilities Hire. The school also maintains Fettes Radio (student-operated) and a mobile application for the school community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fettes Enterprises: Commercial operations including shop, health club, cafe, language centre, and international programmes
• The Fettes Foundation
• Old Fettesian Association

Products and services

• Fettes College Senior School Full boarding and day school for students aged 13-18, offering GCSE examinations followed by a choice of A Levels or International Baccalaureate (IB) in the Sixth Form, with sector-leading pastoral care and over 60 co-curricular activities.
• Fettes Prep School

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of students secured a place at their 1st choice university
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SuperTroopcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity providing residential breaks for young people with physical and learning disabilities. Fettes hosts a week-long annual residential holiday for SuperTroop children in early July. Fettes students, teachers and operational staff are involved throughout the week on a 24/7 basis. Students also fundraise for this charity, raising over £20,000 during a 24-hour endurance challenge.
• FetLor Youth ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth club supporting up to 300 children each week, providing a safe place for children of North Edinburgh to develop resilience, confidence and achieve their potential. Founded by Old Fettesians in the 1960s. Fettes maintains a special relationship with this community organization.
• Rock TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScotland's youth homeless charity. Fettes engages in community involvement activities with the Rock Trust as part of its social impact programme.
• OpportutoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn e-learning non-profit organisation providing English tutoring to refugees around the world. Fettes students volunteer and engage with this international education initiative.
• Lord's Taverners Scotland RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLord's Taverners Scotland Region Wicketz programme. Fettes opens its campus and facilities for schools and community groups. The partnership supports youth cricket development in Edinburgh area through the Wicketz programme.
• State Schools Partnership ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished partnership programme working with state schools across Scotland. Over 160 S5/Year 12 students attend Fettes annual Careers and Higher Education Exploration Day; subject specialists support external state school Oxbridge candidates; over 120 students from six local state High Schools participate in Fettes Science Society lectures.
• Old Fettesian Association (OFA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe alumni association of Fettes College provides lifelong connections for former students. OFs contribute to career partnerships, guest speaking, university preparation support, and fundraising through The Fettes Foundation.
• Fettes FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe charitable foundation supporting Fettes College through fundraising for transformational bursaries and school development. Manages the 'Kick-start' bursary programme awarding two 11-year-old children annually with fully funded education.
• Friends of Fettes College IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS-based support organization for Fettes College, helping connect with American alumni and supporters. Part of the Old Fettesians & Support section.
• Independent School Modern Language Association (ISLMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFettes hosted 90 Lower Sixth French students from eight schools for an immersive day celebrating French language and culture in partnership with ISLMA. Included French-themed workshops and recording podcasts on Fettes Radio.
• Fettes EnterprisescoreOthersCommercial division of the school including Fettes Shop, Westwoods Health Club, Cafe Refresh, Sports Facilities Hire, Fettes Centre for Language & Culture (FCLC), Summer Residential Lets, and Fettes College International. Provides revenue generation and community services.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Harrow School: Historic full-boarding school in England. Overlaps with Fettes in the premium UK and international boarding market but is a much larger, better-established brand with global name recognition.
• Eton College: Premier UK boys' boarding school with a much larger endowment and brand. Competes with Fettes for top-tier international and UK families seeking elite British boarding, but operates at significantly higher scale and historical prestige.
• Wellington College: Large co-educational English boarding school offering A Level and IB. Comparable on dual A Level/IB, boarding ethos and target demographic, but with greater scale, larger endowment, and stronger international brand.
• Winchester College: One of the UK's oldest and most prestigious independent boarding schools. Comparable on heritage and academic positioning but serves a more traditional UK market and is significantly larger in endowment and brand equity.

Direct peers

• Stowe School: Co-educational full-boarding independent school in England offering GCSE, A Level and IB. Comparable on full-boarding model, dual A Level/IB offering, and target market of premium UK and international boarding families.
• Gordonstoun: Scottish co-educational full-boarding school (founded 1934) offering GCSE, A Level and IB pathways. Closest UK peer to Fettes by virtue of geography (Scotland), boarding ethos, and dual A Level/IB offering.
• Loretto School: Leading Scottish co-educational boarding school near Edinburgh, offering GCSE, A Level and IB. Comparable on geography, boarding ethos, and curriculum breadth — one of Fettes' primary Scottish competitors.
• Edinburgh Academy: Edinburgh-based independent day school (Junior and Senior). Direct local competitor for Edinburgh and Scotland day pupils, sharing the same admissions catchment as Fettes Prep and Senior day places.
• George Watson's College: Large Edinburgh-based independent day school (with some boarding). Comparable as a direct Edinburgh competitor for both Prep and Senior day pupils, sharing the same local catchment.
• Merchiston Castle School: Edinburgh-based independent boys' boarding school with a long heritage, directly comparable to Fettes on geography and traditional British boarding model, competing for the same Edinburgh and international fee-paying families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/fettescollege
• Facebookfacebook.com/FettesCollegeFettesPrep
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/fettes-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/fettes.college
• Xx.com/Fettes_College

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fettes College