Dunbar, Lothian EH42 1NN
10 reasons to choose Belhaven Hill
Top line
Belhaven Hill has a Schoolsmith Score® of 88. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Lothian and the best primary school for 10 miles.
School fundamentals
Belhaven Hill is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 5 and 13 years. Boarding from Year 4 for the 60% of pupils who board. All are full boarders. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school. Belhaven Hill fees range from £5,000 (Rec) to £10,500 per term (2025/26). Full boarding fees are £13,150 per term. Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
Belhaven Hill has one class per year and an average class size of 16 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for Belhaven Hill leavers are one of 20 boarding schools with Eton, Glenalmond, Fettes, Oundle and Ampleforth each accounting for around 10% of leavers. 40% of pupils win awards and scholarships.
The Belhaven Hill curriculum
School curriculum is a blend of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence, the English National Curriculum, and the ISEB Common Entrance curriculum. A ‘Creative Curriculum’ in pre-prep. The curriculum also includes PSHE, French, Latin, Greek. Each pupil may participate in over 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers, weekly ‘Outdoor Education’ lesson for all year groups and residential trips from Primary 7.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for sport, music, computing and languages throughout, and for most subjects from Primary 5.
Sport at Belhaven Hill
Five Games sessions per week. School offers over 20 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and an extensive extra-curriculum. Representative teams in major sports from Primary 3.
The Arts at Belhaven Hill
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and almost all take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Primary 3. Three choirs, pipe band, string orchestra and several instrument ensembles. The school is one of the top 50 UK prep schools for the breadth of its creative and performing arts extra-curriculum.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.45am to 6.00pm, or 7.30pm for the oldest pupils. Minibus service.
Find another school near Belhaven Hill
The Compass School (11.3 miles); Loretto Junior School (21.3 miles); Fettes Prep (29 miles).
Loretto School (20.7 miles); Basil Paterson Tutorial College, Middle School (27.9 miles); The Edinburgh Academy (28 miles); St Mary’s Music School (28.3 miles); Stewart’s Melville College (29 miles).