We are delighted to have received planning permission for the construction of a new Wellbeing Centre.

As part of our vision for Fettes, the new Wellbeing Centre will improve our health and wellbeing facilities and provide a place for innovative and pro-active learning about life skills. This new facility will bring the school’s medical and other pastoral care facilities together, with work expected to start later this year and to be completed in 2025.

Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, said: “We are thrilled to be moving forward with what will be a centre of excellence for pastoral care. It will build on all the great practice that already takes place in this important aspect of school life. Happy students learn and happy students thrive, which is why we put wellbeing at the core of everything that happens at Fettes. This new development is one of many reasons why I believe this is an exciting time to be a part of the Fettes community.”

Fettes College students Robin K and Vinjero M, said: “We have a special responsibility as the welfare prefects, and we’re so pleased to learn that planning permission has been granted for the new Wellbeing Centre. This will provide a place for our prefect initiatives and for our peer mentors who are trained in various aspects that affect teenagers e.g. Mental Health Ambassadors. We do a lot to support each other with learning life skills and providing a listening ear and the new centre will give us opportunities to do that in even more creative ways.”

Sue Bruce, Wellbeing Lead for Fettes College said: “The life of a student can involve many periods of change that can be challenging.  We pride ourselves on supporting students through these transitions and in helping them to blossom. Having a dedicated space to act as a hub for our wellbeing lessons, activities, additional support services and our experienced medical team will allow us to fulfil the ambitions we have to be a world-leader in pastoral care.”

The creation of the facility will go alongside a full review of landscaping at Fettes, to inform a wider landscape management programme of enhanced biodiversity and rewilding including planting more trees within the existing 100-acre green city campus.

The project aims to set new sustainability standards for the College grounds, paving the way for low carbon operations across the estate. The new building focuses on minimising heat loss and energy demands, with features including triple glazing, high levels of natural insulation, and low-carbon materials like glulam timber and sandstone.

New heating and ventilation systems, including air source heat pumps and heat recovery units, will further reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

The School has worked with the Glasgow team from Page/Park Architects, which designed the Spens Building at Fettes housing the College’s Salvesen Art School, Culachy Music School and The Modern Foreign Languages department.

Andy Bateman of Page/Park Architects said: “The proposal seeks to achieve a calm, nurturing and inclusive environment, rooted in its setting. We were heavily influenced by traditional Chinese philosophy in the design through the timber and sandstone building materials, the zinc roof finish, and the large windows.”

Discover more about our vision – Fettes Moving Forward - and how it shapes and informs our future: https://www.fettes.com/vision