The 2023–24 academic year at Cargilfield School concluded the celebrations of its 150th anniversary. The school community came together through a series of commemorative events, including a pilgrimage along the Western Front Way to honour fallen former pupils, a Founder’s Day service, and a whole-school Beach Day. These events not only celebrated the school’s rich history but also reinforced its strong sense of community. The anniversary culminated in a fantastic ball attended by over 500 guests, raising more than £140,000 for the Cargilfield 150th Anniversary Fund.
Academically, Cargilfield continued to thrive. All Form 8 pupils secured places at their chosen senior schools, with 15 scholarships awarded across a diverse range of schools in Scotland and across the UK. The school also stood out in national competitions, including the UK Rocketry Challenge, where it was the only junior school in Scotland to reach the finals. Other academic highlights included a successful Book Festival, achievements in science and mathematics competitions, and a strong debating programme that engaged pupils in thoughtful discourse.
The arts and sports remained integral to school life. Music participation was exceptionally high, with 90% of pupils aged 8 and above learning instruments and the Pipe Band continuing to shine. Drama had an equally busy year with performances like Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat showcasing the pupils’ talent. In sport, Cargilfield once again had three teams represent Scotland at the IAPS Hockey Finals, had very successful rugby and netball tours and expanded its sporting programme to include indoor rowing and outdoor pursuits, ensuring opportunities for all pupils regardless of ability.
Despite broader challenges facing independent schools in the UK, Cargilfield has maintained strong enrolment, particularly in its Nursery and early Primary years. The school’s continued success is a testament to the dedication of its staff, the support of parents and governors, and the enthusiasm of its pupils. These collective efforts reinforce Cargilfield’s reputation as one of the leading preparatory schools in the country.
Matthew joined the Board of Governors in 2021. He is a former pupil of the school and a former parent. From Cargilfield, Matthew went on to Glenalmond College and graduated from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester in 1992. He qualified as a Chartered Surveyor in 1994, whilst working for a national firm of Surveyors, progressing to associate partner, before leaving and founding Saint Property in 2000, a property search, acquisition and advisory business throughout Scotland. He is the past chairman of the Scottish Land and Estates South West Region and past chairman of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust Scottish Auction. He currently holds a number of trustee posts for family estates. He is the owner of Knocknalling Farms, a farming and forestry enterprise in Galloway, and was appointed Lord-Lieutenant for the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in July 2021.
Sally has two children both of whom attended Cargilfield before going on to Glenalmond College. She chaired the Friends of Cargilfield for almost three years and has always been a keen supporter of the school. Sally worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh working in commercial/civil litigation and latterly criminal cases before ‘retiring’ to bring up her children. She then became involved in supporting several charities and is now employed part-time advising a Family Trust. Whilst her days as a keen sportswoman are long behind her she enjoys country sports, entertaining and skiing badly.
Following school at University College School, Hampstead, Andrew read Classics at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He began his career at Brentwood School before joining Harrow School in 1987, where he taught for three decades. He was House Master of The Head Master’s before his appointment to Harrow’s Senior Management Team in September 2012. As Senior Tutor, he oversaw safeguarding and child protection as well as other areas of pastoral care and pupil welfare. Andrew takes a keen interest in all forms of sport. He is a published playwright with a love of musical theatre and continues to use his tenor voice wherever possible (most recently with Chelmsford Cathedral Choir). Andrew joined the Board in 2018. He is a member of the Education and Welfare Committee and Chair of the Safeguarding Committee.
A former parent and former pupil of Cargilfield, David joined the Board of Governors in 2021. Both of his children started their education at Cargilfield in the Pre-Prep. One is still at Cargilfield, the other progressed to Uppingham School in 2019.
David graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1992 and completed an MBA at the University of Edinburgh in 2002. He is a Chartered Surveyor and has worked in both London and Edinburgh. In 2008, he co-founded Hendersonherd, an advisory business specialising in commercial property finance and investment.
David is trustee to a number of charities. These support improved access to secondary and tertiary education in Scotland. They also provide support for the physical and mental rehabilitation of Veterans.
Holly was a parent at Cargilfield from 2006 until 2019. During that time, the family moved from Edinburgh to Stirlingshire and embraced boarding life at Cargilfield (she also spent many hours manning the second-hand uniform cupboard)!
Holly graduated with a degree in Modern Languages and Business in 1992 before working abroad and then pursuing a career in Financial Recruitment and Training in London.
Since living in Scotland, she has spent her time juggling homelife, with one child still at Uppingham, one at Edinburgh College following a course for students with additional needs and a ‘grown up’ child at University. She has a particular interest and experience with special educational needs and autism.
Holly is a keen sportswoman and has spent many years supporting school teams. In her free time she enjoys most outdoor pursuits, travelling and looking after the family’s animals.
Anna is an experienced strategy, change, and communications professional with a strong leadership background in financial services, agri-foods, and the pharmaceutical sector. She has worked at senior levels in both the UK and across various European countries, bringing a wealth of experience to her governance role. Having spent much of her childhood in Australia, Anna brings a global perspective to her approach. She completed her studies at the University of Aberdeen before relocating to London, where she lived for ten years, gaining further professional and personal insights along the way.
In her personal life, Anna is a mother of two boys, who both have attended Cargilfield School. Outside of work and governance, Anna is passionate about current affairs and enjoys staying active, particularly through running and Pilates. Her diverse experience, international perspective, and active engagement in her community make Anna a valuable asset to the school governance team.
Rob is a Partner at international law firm Trowers & Hamlins. Rob specialises in dispute resolution in the energy and construction sectors. He is a Writer to His Majesty’s Signet, a Liveryman of the City of London Solicitor’s Company and a Member of the Royal Company of Merchants in Edinburgh. Rob is married to Suzie, also a lawyer, and they have three children. Rob’s grandfather and great-uncle attended Cargilfield School and his great-uncle is commemorated on the Memorial to those that died in the Great War in the School’s Chapel. Rob is also a Director and Company Secretary of Strathardle Highland Gathering. He enjoys archery, golf and country sports.
Peter works closely with fellow governors and school leaders to support staff and help maintain the high standards of a Cargilfield education, with a key focus on the Education and Welfare Committee and the People Project. With over 20 years of experience in senior roles at Charterhouse, Merchiston Castle School, and Stowe, he has worked across all areas of school life - pastoral, academic, and co-curricular - and has somehow still found time to play semi-professional cricket.
Now overseeing partnerships and operations for the Chartered Management Institute in Scotland, Peter is passionate about promoting leadership and building strong connections with universities, colleges, and organisations. His approach to leadership style revolves around empathy, energy, and collaboration, while maintaining a strong focus on practical governance and staff wellbeing. What attracted Peter to Cargilfield was the strong sense of community among staff, pupils, and parents, as well as the school’s vibrant atmosphere.
Peter and his wife, Alice, are proud parents to three teenagers—Rosie, James, and Isla.
Anthony is a current parent at Cargilfield with one son enjoying his time at the school and the other having recently moved on to Fettes College. Anthony and his family have close ties to the school with a number of members of their family being current pupils but also former pupils of Cargilfield spanning decades. Anthony and his family moved to Edinburgh in 2022 after an extended period in the United Arab Emirates where he worked for one of Abu Dhabi’s leading sovereign wealth funds. Prior to his time in Abu Dhabi Anthony spent the majority of his career working in London in investment banking after first qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. Since returning to Edinburgh Anthony works day to day as a director and trustee of a family estate.
As Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and a member of the Board, Anthony is committed on ensuring the school’s continued success and financial stability. With his extensive background in banking and expertise in financial solutions, Anthony brings valuable experience to his role as governor.
With over 37 years of experience in education, Sarah has made significant contributions to both local authority schools and the independent sector in England and Scotland. Serving as a Head Teacher for over 22 years, she has been a passionate advocate for student success and educational excellence. Sarah’s expertise was further recognised when she was seconded to Education Scotland as an Attainment Advisor, where she supported schools across Aberdeen City for 18 months.
Most recently, Sarah held the position of Head of Junior School at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen before her retirement. Her career also included a role as an Associate Inspector, where she was part of the team that inspected Cargilfield in 2023.
A proud Aberdonian, Sarah received her education at Albyn School in Aberdeen, where she was Head Girl. She is married to Phil and is the mother of one son, Andrew.
Outside of her professional life, Sarah is passionate about sports and enjoys watching a wide variety of games and competitions. She also has a love for music, particularly singing and enjoys musicals at the theatre.
Cargilfield School was founded in 1873 as a Charitable Trust, with the principal object of providing the best education for its pupils.
The Headmaster is in charge of the day-to-day management of the School, and reports to the Board of Governors. The School’s strategic decisions are made by the Board, which is also charged with ensuring the long-term stability and effectiveness of the Charity. It is intended that the Board of Governors comprises around 12 members, who will contribute a variety of skills and experiences appropriate to the functions of the School. In addition to education, it is particularly important that the Board can offer leadership in legal, financial, medical, property and commercial matters.
The Company is governed by its Articles of Association.
The Governing Body meets at least three times a year and is assisted in its work by a series of sub-committees: The Finance and General Purposes (FGP) Committee, the Governance and Nominations (GN) Committee, the Education and Welfare Committee, the Health and Safety Committee and the Safeguarding Committee. All of the Committees meet at least once a term, while the other committees meet at least twice a year. The FGP Committee is the Audit Committee for the Charity. Details of the remit of each committee may be found on the School website.
The Governors are appointed by the Board for an initial term not exceeding four years. Governors are eligible to serve a second four-year term, but can be elected for a third only in exceptional circumstances defined by the Articles. The composition of the Board is set to reflect a mix of past and current parents, former pupils, education professionals and independents with particularly relevant expertise. The position is unpaid.
The Chairman of the Board is Lord Matthew Sinclair.
The Board encourages an open communications policy. Its members are in attendance at a range of school events, and meet frequently with representatives of the Friends of Cargilfield and the School staff.
While more formal issues or queries should be addressed to the Headmaster in the first instance, the Chairman of the Board can always be contacted through the school office. This can be done by post - see below:
Clerk to the Governors,
45 Gamekeeper’s Road,
Edinburgh EH4 6HU
Or by email to [email protected], for the attention of ‘Clerk to the Governors’.
Cargilfield aims to provide an excellent educational outcome for each of its pupils. We do this by providing a broad curriculum of activities supported by excellent staff and facilities and built on a sustainable financial base. In guiding our development programme, we consider the views of institutions such as the Care Inspectorate and experts in child protection and welfare. We maintain active relationships with senior schools in Scotland and across the UK, while remaining independent of any one in particular. Engagement with staff, the parent body – and the pupils themselves – is at the heart of ensuring Cargilfield remains strong. Within our wider community, we are determined to uphold an active commitment to public benefit. This requires not only the advancement of the education of our own pupils, but also a contribution to the needs of others in our local area.
Supplemented by the work of its committees, the full Board meets at least once a term. The Board’s main objective is to formulate a clear strategy and direction for the School, in partnership with the Headmaster and his Senior Management Team, while ensuring its financial stability. The members of the Board support the leadership and administration of the School both directly, and through the appointment of appropriate external advisers.
At each termly meeting, the Board takes reports from the Headmaster and the Bursar addressing the broad educational, pastoral and financial needs of the School, and always considers critical issues such as child protection, health & safety and a broad review of potential risks. The reports of the various committees described below are tabled and discussed. In addition, the Board holds a strategy meeting early in the Spring Term of each year to consider the longer term direction and management of Cargilfield.
The Finance and General Purposes Committee, assisted by the Headmaster and the Bursar, is responsible for overseeing the financial performance and outlook of the School. The committee recommends to the Board proposals on capital expenditure, fees, staff contracts and employment conditions, and the strategy for pupil and staff numbers. It is responsible for overseeing the investment of financial reserves, and for reviewing the annual accounts. In addition to its responsibility for overseeing risk assessment and mitigation, the FGP also carries the remit for ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory matters such as Charity and Company law. The FGP committee oversees the property of the School. This includes the maintenance of the existing estate, the management of the assets and new building works. Health and Safety issues are considered by an internal committee with a direct report to the full Board.
The FGP committee meets at least once a term and is supported in its work by the Company Secretary (Chiene & Tait), the Auditor (Whitelaw Wells), and HR consultants (Navigator). The Chairman of the FGP is Mr Anthony Prince.
The Education and Welfare Committee focuses on the aims, delivery and performance of the curriculum while also guiding and reviewing pastoral care.
The Safeguarding Committee overseas all matters of safeguarding at Cargilfield and, in particular, the work of the staff on the Safeguarding Team at the School. The Committee has oversight of safeguarding policies as well as the day to day practice at Cargilfield. The Chair of the Committee is Mr Andrew MacGregor.
The Governing Body meets at least three times a year and is assisted in its work by a series of sub-committees: The Finance and General Purposes (FGP) Committee, the Governance and Nominations (GN) Committee, the Education and Welfare Committee, the Health and Safety Committee and the Safeguarding Committee. All of the Committees meet at least once a term, while the other committees meet at least twice a year. The FGP Committee is the Audit Committee for the Charity. Details of the remit of each committee may be found on the School website.
Cargilfield Accounts - 2023/24
Join us on Friday 2 May between 9am and 12pm to discover what makes Cargilfield truly special.