United Kingdom · Edinburgh
The Edinburgh Academy is a co-educational day school for ages 2–18. Nursery and Junior pupils attend Arboretum Road, while Senior pupils attend Henderson Row. The main qualification route is Scottish Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers. There is no boarding.
The Edinburgh Academy is a co-educational independent day school. It teaches children from age two through the final year of secondary school.
The school operates on two central Edinburgh sites:
There is no boarding provision. Families must arrange a daily journey and, where relevant, a lawful living arrangement outside school.
In January 2026, inspectors counted 360 pupils in P1–P6 and 686 in P7–S6. Nursery children were outside the scope of that inspection.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education inspected the Junior and Senior Schools in January 2026. Its report was published on 17 March 2026.
The four quality evaluations were:
| Area | Evaluation |
|---|---|
| Leadership of change | Very good |
| Learning, teaching and assessment | Very good |
| Wellbeing, equality and inclusion | Very good |
| Raising attainment and achievement | Excellent |
Inspectors highlighted sustained attainment, pupil engagement, community, and leadership across the school. They asked senior leaders to strengthen collaboration between the two sites.
They also asked Senior School staff to make consistently high-quality teaching more dependable across departments. Supporting evidence identified specific areas for development, including written feedback, formative assessment and consistent tracking.
The evidence was positive about universal and targeted support in the Junior School. In the Senior School, inspectors recommended clearer support targets, more pupil involvement and closer monitoring of impact.
These recommendations do not mean support is absent. They do mean that a family should ask how a proposed plan will be recorded, reviewed and communicated.
Geits through 3rds, or P7–S2, follow the broad Scottish Curriculum for Excellence. At the end of 3rds, pupils normally select eight subjects for the next two years.
English and Mathematics are compulsory. The school strongly recommends a language, a science and a social subject. Most pupils work towards National 5 qualifications, although National 4 is available.
In 6ths, pupils usually take five Highers. In 7ths, they may progress to Advanced Highers or take further Highers. The school also offers the Scottish Baccalaureate.
There are limited exceptions to this Scottish route. The academic page lists GCSE Art and Design and GCSE Photography. It also explains an AS or A-level option in Art and Design.
The learning page says A levels are currently offered in Art and Design Technology. It does not explain the Design Technology route, so families should request the current options before choosing the school.
The Edinburgh Academy does not offer the International Baccalaureate. A family moving between national systems should check how Scottish qualifications meet the intended university requirements.
The admissions policy expects applicants to have enough English to access the curriculum. Previous education in English is usual, but the school says it considers individual circumstances.
Short-term English as an additional language support may be arranged at the parents’ expense. The school does not publish the hours, duration or price.
Learning support can include in-class help, small-group teaching, short withdrawal sessions, exam arrangements and individual planning. The current policy describes a Plan–Do–Review process.
The school may ask for an external specialist assessment. Parents usually pay for that assessment. Access arrangements for public examinations remain subject to the relevant SQA or JCQ rules.
The admissions policy requires families to disclose known learning needs and disabilities. The school then considers reasonable adjustments and whether it can provide suitable support.
The policy also allows the school to refuse or later withdraw a place if it cannot meet a pupil’s needs after reasonable adjustment. This is a material condition, so obtain a written support plan before accepting.
The school publishes no support-capacity figures or standard learning-support fee. Ask what is included in tuition and what would be charged separately.
Nursery places are normally offered in application-date order. For later entry, the school considers assessment results, references, siblings and other Academy connections.
Main entry points include Nursery, P1, Geits, 2nds, 4ths, 6ths and 7ths. Places in other years depend on capacity.
The process varies by age:
Siblings receive priority, but admission is not automatic. The policy says all applicants are assessed against the same criteria.
The school has Christian roots but does not select by religion. It accepts pupils of all faiths and none, while retaining some religious observances during the year.
The live page gives the following dates for the current 2027 cycle:
| Entry group | Application deadline | Assessment | Offer | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursery | No fixed deadline | Not stated | From October before entry | Within 10 days of offer |
| P1 | 27 November 2026 | 5 January 2027 | 2 February 2027 | 25 February 2027 |
| P2–P6 | 6 November 2026 | 21 November 2026 | Week of 7 December 2026 | 25 February 2027 |
| Geits/P7 | 20 November 2026 | 5 December 2026 | 12 January 2027 | 25 February 2027 |
| 2nds/S1 | 20 November 2026 | 5 December 2026 | 5 February 2027 | 25 February 2027 |
| 3rds/S2 and 4ths/S3 | 20 November 2026 | 5 December 2026 | 12 January 2027 | 25 February 2027 |
| Sixth Form | 5 January 2027 | 26 January 2027 | 5 February 2027 | 25 February 2027 |
Late P1 and Sixth Form applications may be considered. For every other year, ask before paying the non-refundable application fee.
A place is secure only when the school has made a formal offer and the family has completed its acceptance requirements.
The current fees page is headed Fees & Additional Costs 2026–27. Its amounts include VAT where applicable.
Tuition covers curricular teaching, teacher-led activities and personal accident insurance. It does not cover all costs of attendance.
| Compulsory entry charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application, Nursery–7ths | £100 |
| Nursery joining fee | £100 |
| P1 joining fee from Academy Nursery | £250 |
| Direct-entry joining fee, P1–7ths | £350 |
All four charges are described as non-refundable.
| Year group | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| P1–P2 | £14,247 |
| P3–P4 | £16,809 |
| P5–P6 | £17,411 |
| Geits/P7 | £18,770 |
| 2nds–7ths/S1–S6 | £22,990 |
A new direct-entry pupil in 2nds therefore has fixed entry and tuition charges of £23,440. This excludes lunch, technology, transport, uniform, trips, examinations and activities.
| Nursery arrangement | Age 3 or over | Age 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time annual fee, including lunch | £13,405 | £17,174 |
| Morning, 08:30–12:00 | £44.38 | £52.23 |
| Full day, 08:30–15:00, including lunch | £74.47 | £95.41 |
The rate depends on the child’s age at the start of each billing period. A two-year-old must attend at least three weekly sessions; an older child must attend at least five.
| Extra | 2026/27 charge |
|---|---|
| Senior lunch | £5.99 per day |
| P4–P6 lunch | £5.41 per day |
| P1–P3 lunch | £5.34 per day |
| Nursery lunch | £4.83 per day |
| Technology supplement | £145 per year |
| Junior individual music lesson, 30 minutes | £25.63 |
| Senior individual music lesson, 40 minutes | £34.17 |
| Orchestral instrument hire | £36.25 per term |
Lunch is charged regardless of absence and is not refunded for missed days. The current page still says instalments begin in August 2025, so confirm the billing dates for 2026/27.
Books are included in Junior tuition but not listed as included in Senior tuition. Devices, national examinations, uniform, sports kit, trips and some activities can all cost extra.
The Vectare bus service charges by zone and trip. Pre-booked fares range from £1.86 in Zone A to £5.49 in Zone H.
Ad hoc fares range from £2.79 to £8.24. Obtain the route, timetable and annual usage estimate before budgeting.
Early Birds care costs £100 per quarter. After-school sessions cost £5.75–£9.25 each, depending on the time block.
Cancellations after 09:00 and unannounced absences are charged in full. Care beyond the booked session carries a 20% surcharge.
Late collection after 18:00 costs £10 per child for each 15 minutes. The school makes an exception for unavoidable emergencies.
Holiday Club for Academy pupils aged two to six costs £51.50–£62 for a full day. Half days cost £31–£36, with the higher rates applying to two-year-olds.
School fees are due on the first business day of each quarter or through 12 monthly direct debits. Extras are invoiced separately during the year.
The school reserves the right to charge interest on late payments, but the public page gives no rate. It also reserves the right to vary the parent contract with at least one full term’s notice.
Obtain those terms before paying. A family should not assume that departure during a term ends its financial liability.
Means-tested bursaries are available only to new pupils. Awards can cover up to 100% of tuition, subject to funds and financial assessment.
The school normally prioritises Senior applicants. Junior awards may be available when funds permit.
Awards are reviewed every year and can change. A 100% award may also support uniform, books and other essentials, but the family should confirm the exact package.
The current bursary deadline is 12:00 on 8 January 2027. Offers are scheduled for 5 February 2027.
Scholarships do not generally reduce tuition:
The sports dates conflict across current school sources. Ask for the 2027 deadline and selection process before preparing an application.
The UK government’s student-sponsor register listed The Edinburgh Academy on 4 September 2026. Its licence covers the Child Student route and the Student route.
For a Child Student visa, an applicant needs an unconditional offer and a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies. The child must also meet the financial, consent and living-arrangement rules.
The school publishes no sponsorship timetable, CAS charge or document checklist. Overseas families should request these details before paying non-refundable charges.
The Edinburgh Academy is a day school. It does not publish school-arranged boarding, homestay or guardianship.
A parent may use the Parent of a Child Student route only when the child is aged 4–11 and the other requirements are met. Older pupils need a different lawful care arrangement.
Immigration rules can change and admission is not a visa decision. Check the current government guidance and obtain specialist advice where necessary.
The school is not suitable for a family that needs boarding or the IB. It also requires careful budgeting because lunch and several routine costs sit outside tuition.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
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7 minStart with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.