St George's School for Girls
At St George’s we believe in making our girls stand out from the crowd.
It’s the quality of individual attention, small class sizes and flexibility that make a difference.
- Situated on an eleven-acre parkland setting in the heart of Edinburgh, St George’s is the only all-through girls’ school in Edinburgh.
- Girls come first by design and have the freedom to be themselves. Our ‘YES SHE CAN’ approach, embodied in the abundance of strong female role-models and the range of opportunity helps inspire every girl to find the path that is right for her.
- A sector-leading curriculum, combined with our uniquely rounded approach to education, help girls go forward to explore wide-ranging careers.
- Examination results in both English and Scottish qualifications are consistently outstanding, and a high proportion go on to study STEM-related courses in Russell Group universities.
- Boarders live in a close-knit family community on the campus. Our approach to boarding is flexible and caters to the individual needs of each girl.
Edinburgh is consistently considered one of the most desirable places to live in the world
The school is based in a tranquil 14-acre parkland setting, with views to Edinburgh Castle, in the heart of the city of Edinburgh. Boasting a stunning landscape, and a rich cultural heritage, Edinburgh is consistently considered one of the most desirable places to live in the world. As a boarder living in the heart of Edinburgh a girl at St George’s can take advantage of all the culture, sport and activity the city has to offer.
Our focus on the individual is paramount
Each girl is encouraged in her distinctive talents and interests to achieve her true potential. The school is small enough to offer pastoral support and time to focus on the individual, yet at the top end, large enough to offer a wide range of curricular subjects and co-curricular opportunities.
Home from home boarding community
Boarding numbers are around 50 girls and include UK and international pupils ranging in age from 10 to 18 years. They all live in Houldsworth house, which is situated at the edge of the school’s private grounds, a walk of only 20 minutes from the bustle of the city centre.
‘There is a real community in Houldsworth House and it has been frequently called a ‘home away from home’- well, it truly is! We all know each other really well and get on with each other, which means we make lasting friendships across year groups. Houldsworth provides a lot of different activities to do each weekend; this allows people with different interests to enjoy them.’ Tara from Zimbabwe.
In Houldsworth our boarders feel secure in a close-knit structured environment in a similar way to siblings in a family, where older and younger housemates can learn from each other and offer support to one another.
Although we offer a British boarding experience, we very much pride ourselves on being an international community and enjoy sharing and celebrating each other’s customs and festivals.
Accolade of Excellence for Boarding Provision
For the fifth consecutive time, St George’s, has been awarded the highest grade of “excellent” across all areas of assessment in a report produced by the Care Inspectorate following a recent inspection of their boarding provision. Click on the link to download a copy of the full boarding inspection report.
International Education and the International School Award
We want our students to take their place in the world as effective and responsible global citizens. Our international curriculum takes a variety of forms to broaden students’ cultural awareness, develop their linguistic proficiency and promote greater self-awareness and independence. St George’s has been awarded the prestigious International School Award by the British Council for the fourth time running. This award is a badge of honour for schools that do outstanding and innovative work in international education through links with partner schools overseas.
Location
Located on the west side of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city.
Nearest airport: Edinburgh Airport: 20 minutes (6 miles), Glasgow Airport: 1 hour (52 miles)
Nearest train station: Haymarket Station: 5 minutes (1.5 miles), Waverley Station: (15 minutes) 5 miles
Testimonials
Our transition to a boarding family was made so easy and happy thanks to the team at Houldsworth and over five years we have had many occasions to be thankful that our daughter has been under your kindness and care. We have watched her grow into a confident and happy young woman and know that much of that is down to just the right balance of freedom and responsibility and we are extremely grateful to you for getting the balance just right.
Boarding Parent
We have been boarding at St George’s for two years and time has really flown by. We can hardly believe that we only met two years ago. Not only do we have classes and extra-curricular activities together, but we also share a room. Being in Houldsworth has been an amazing experience for us both. Because there is such a variety of nationalities here we have had the opportunity to meet and befriend girls from every corner of the globe. The small and family-like community we have in Houldsworth allows us to bond and really get to know one another, no matter what our age or background. Boarding has also taught us how to be more responsible and caring of others. Similarly we have always felt completely supported by one another throughout our time here. The houseparents always work closely with school and other teachers to ensure we achieve what we are capable of and have the best time doing it. Not only are they always there to help with homework, but they are always there with a cup of tea when things get tough and all we need is a chat and a helping hand.
Overall, boarding at St George’s has provided us with amazing opportunities, memories and friends that will last a lifetime. Houldsworth is not just a boarding house, it is a sisterhood.
Pupils, Anna and Eilidh, U5
Admissions & Fees
Girls are admitted at any stage of their school career. Entry is by our own school entrance assessment, interview, and school report. We offer individual and group assessment days, school visits, open days and taster days.
Sibling brothers are welcome at Merchiston Castle School for boys, Edinburgh, where we offer a discount scheme.
St George’s seeks to be accessible to students from a wide range of social, economic and cultural backgrounds: means-tested bursaries are available for families who cannot afford the full fee.
| Termly Boarding fee | £9,105 - £10,145 |
| Termly Day fee | £3,860 - £4,344 |
| Registration fee | £75 |
| Deposit (boarding) | £3,000 |