Our pastoral care is sector leading and central to our supportive community of students and staff.
We are committed to all aspects of student wellbeing from ensuring there is quiet time and supporting positive mental health, to promoting healthy eating and physical activity and we offer students a wide range of pathways for them to participate in and support.
If any student has a problem, there is always someone they can speak to - from Houseparents, Prefects and other senior students to their personal Tutor, Chaplain, Teachers, PSHE teachers, medical centre staff and counselling team.
Our Hub, developed jointly with our pastoral team and PSHE prefects, provides a drop-in base and offers alternative space for students needing a listening ear or some quiet time.
Fidra, our Therapet, along with various and varying initiatives throughout the year offer ways or reducing stress and anxiety, particularly during the exam season.
This new building is made possible through the generosity of David Allardice, an Old Fettesian who passed away in 2022. In his memory, our new wellbeing centre will be named the Allardice Centre. It will be a centre of excellence for pastoral care providing a dedicated space for the medical team, wellbeing lessons, activities and support services.
Work commencing January 2025
The project sets new sustainability standards for Fettes College grounds, paving the way for low carbon operations across the campus
At Fettes the Personal, Social, Health and Emotional Education Programme (PSHE) is an essential part of the well-rounded curriculum that is offered throughout a student’s time at school. There are a number of key strands in the PSHE Curriculum that form the basis of the programme and the courses are not limited to only the timetabled curricular topics. The boarding house system and ethos of school life intrinsically contribute to the development of emotional resilience, wellbeing, values, attitudes and learning of important life skills.
There is a diverse range of teaching methods. The sessions vary from personal in-House sessions and plenaries to smaller tutor groups. The sessions can also be more formal in nature with Guest Speakers and PSHE lessons including cross-curricular links with other subjects. Chapel offers the time for reflection whereas tutor groups provide a more intimate and informal atmosphere for discussion. We have an experienced PSHE team delivering various strands which include members of academic staff, the Medical Centre staff, and PSHE Prefects as well as outside speakers and charities.
Our programme aims to provide all students with an appreciation and understanding of the issues that they are experiencing or could experience in the future. We aim to provide good, relevant information relating to areas of their personal, social, health and emotional development by offering opportunities for them to develop key skills such as resilience, resourcefulness, healthy relationships, decision making, risk assessment, communication skills and strategies for coping.
The Hub, developed jointly with our pastoral team and PSHE prefects, provides a drop-in base and offers alternative space for students needing a listening ear or some quiet time.
We have locations on campus for students to mix out-with House groups - including new seating areas and Prefects have facilitated cross year group activities including the very popular hot chocolate nights.
A gentle, kind and loving dog, Fidra - a Cockapoo - is a qualified Therapet and supports our students in a number of ways including helping in the medical centre; helping with anxiety; available for walks in our grounds and helping to teach students about caring for animals and overcoming fear.
“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.”Sue Bruce Wellbeing Lead for Fettes College
"The care and commitment shown to my children was outstanding. Because of this, they developed a real sense of self-worth."
Fettes Parent(Of an Old Fettesian)
Fettes College is dedicated to ensuring that all students and staff live together in a safe and supportive environment. We understand that for a student to thrive and get the most out of their academic and extra-curricular opportunities they must first be happy and feel they are safe, included, valued and that they belong, with the space to be themselves - this is what drives us forward.
