We are delighted to announce the appointment of Tara McDonald as Houseparent of Arniston from September 2026. Tara will succeed Rachel Nicol, who has served Arniston since 2015.

Tara has been a member of the Fettes community since 2010 and is currently Head of the History and Politics Department. She brings 25 years of teaching and pastoral care within the Scottish independent sector, along with two years teaching abroad in Kuala Lumpur. Tara was a tutor in Arniston for 11 years before joining Craigleith House in 2021.

Commenting on her appointment, Tara says “ Arniston holds a special place for me, and I am looking forward to working with the girls to continue the legacy Rachel Nicol has built. Arniston is very much a place where the girls feel valued and nurtured. It is a home away from home, and I know how special it is to our current and Old Fettesians. I have always loved, and been proud of, being a part of its past, and I am really looking forward to helping guide its future. The boarding houses at Fettes are of course places to live, but they are also fundamental to our students’ academic success and personal growth. I am excited to be joining a team so focused on bringing out the best in every student in our care.”

Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College says “Tara takes up this position with a wealth of leadership, teaching, and pastoral experience.  Throughout her time at Fettes, Tara has taught and tutored all age ranges; she understands and enjoys the life of a boarding school and is passionate about working with the girls, helping them navigate through this stage of life and empowering them to become the best of people.  This is a very exciting and key appointment in a boarding school.  Tara is fully committed to building on the excellent care and traditions of Rachel Nicol and I am confident that Arniston will continue to be a welcoming, inclusive, and stimulating community under Tara’s leadership”