The Nursery and School Guide Edinburgh Magazine presents the School Guide Edinburgh Podcast — a series of in-depth conversations with leaders from Edinburgh's top independent schools. It helps parents navigate school options and discuss the hot topics of the day.
For more information, visit www.nurseryandschoolguide.co.uk
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The Compass School, Haddington, Head - Mark Becher
Episode 11 — In conversation with Mark Becher, Head at The Compass School, Haddington. I've known Mark for over 20 years through my work publishing the Nursery and School Guide Magazine, and he is exactly what you'd hope for in an independent school head: warm, approachable, and deeply committed to the children. Mark has led The Compass School for nearly 30 years, and that wealth of experience shines through in everything we discuss. You'll hear just how passionate he is about the school, a...
30 Sept 2026
Merchiston Head - Huw Jones
Episode 10 – I chat with Huw Jones, head of Merchiston. He's been Head for just over a year now, and I think you will agree that Huw comes across as an extremely competent and persuasive leader. In recent years, Merchiston has undergone a significant transformation, including establishing a new co-ed nursery and Junior School called The Forest. We talk about Huw's journey to becoming Head, what he's learnt about the school, and the direction it's going in. He talks about how the school models...
23 Sept 2026
St George's, Edinburgh Head - Carol Chandler-Thompson
Episode 9 - I chat to the very passionate Carol Chandler-Thompson, Head of St George's School, Edinburgh. The only all-girls primary and secondary school in Edinburgh. I had far more questions than time allowed! I hope you will find this a very interesting listen, especially if you already feel one way or the other about single sex education. Carol gives an insightful look at how single sex education benefits girls. We could have discussed this at great length but had to move on. I'm tr...
16 Sept 2026
Cargilfield Prep School Head - Colin MacIntosh
In Episode 8, I chat with Colin MacIntosh, Headmaster of Cargilfield Prep School. Cargilfield is a co-ed nursery and prep school with boarding and day pupils aged 3 to 13. It is situated in the Barnton/Cramond area on the west side of Edinburgh. It was a delight to chat with Colin; he told us about himself, his family, and his route to becoming Headmaster at Cargilfield last year. I asked him if he thinks his priorities or direction differ from the last head. And we discuss the ethos at Cargi...
9 Sept 2026
Edinburgh Montessori Art School (EMAS) Head - Emma Rattigan
In Episode 7, I chat with Emma Rattigan, Founder and Principal of the Edinburgh Montessori Art School (EMAS). Emma's passion for, and deep knowledge of, the Montessori ethos of teaching and learning shines through from start to finish. I was completely gripped and could easily have kept recording for hours, though I did try my best to keep us on track for half an hour! EMAS is the only school in Scotland to offer a complete Montessori education for ages 1–18, and we talk about how Emma grew f...
2 Sept 2026
George Heriot's Head, Gareth Warren
In this episode 6, I sit down with the incredibly personable Gareth Warren, Principal at George Heriot's. Once again, I put the same core questions to him — giving you the perfect opportunity to contrast and compare Heriot's with the other schools featured in this series. Gareth talks about his own path into education and the experiences that shaped him, shares the values that drive him as a school leader, and gives us a real sense of the 'Heriot's Ethos' — and what it truly means to be a pu...
26 Aug 2026
Loretto School Head - Pete Richardson
Episode 5 is the first conversation in our series with the head of a boarding school. Pete Richardson is Head of Loretto School, a co-educational boarding and day school for pupils aged 3 to 18, with nursery provision. Located in Musselburgh, East Lothian, just outside Edinburgh, Loretto has fewer than 500 pupils and offers outstanding facilities, including a first-class Golf Academy. The school follows the English curriculum and exam system. In this episode, we discover how Pete first became...
19 Aug 2026
The Montessori Nursery & School Head - Trish Thornton
Episode 4 offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at The Montessori Nursery and School in Murrayfield, Edinburgh. The nursery welcomes children from age 2.5, with the primary school catering for ages 6–12. In 25 years of publishing the Nursery and School Guide magazine, this is the conversation that finally gave me a true understanding of how the Montessori method compares to mainstream education. If you're in the early stages of choosing a nursery or early years setting in Edinburgh, lis...
12 Aug 2026
Erskine Stewart Melville Head - Anthony Simpson
In episode three, I'm delighted to be joined by Anthony Simpson, Principal of Erskine Stewart Melville — a co-educational independent day school for children aged 3 to 18. The nursery welcomes children from age 3 at the Junior School on the Ravelston site up to P7. The whole senior school is now based on the Queensferry Road site. Anthony tells us how the senior school’s merger has come together. We talk about his path into a career in education and various schools he has worked in befo...
5 Aug 2026
Edinburgh Academy Head - Barry Welsh
In the second episode of the series, I'm delighted to be joined by Mr Barry Welsh, Rector of The Edinburgh Academy — a co-educational independent day school for children aged 2 to 18. The Nursery welcomes children from age 2 at the Junior School in Inverleith. From Primary 7, pupils move to the Senior School on Henderson Row in Stockbridge, where they stay until age 18. Barry shares his journey to becoming Rector over eight years ago and his leadership style. We explore how the school's two c...
29 Jul 2026
Clifton Hall School Head - Jill Drummond
For this first episode, I am delighted to be joined by Mrs Jill Drummond, Headteacher at Clifton Hall, a co-ed independent school for 3-18-year-olds in Newbridge, on the west side of Edinburgh. During our conversation, I felt Jill's passion for education and her desire to make sure every child has the potential to flourish. We talked about her journey to becoming head at Clifton Hall and her leadership style. We also discussed the school's ethos and how it supports both academical...
22 Jul 2026
Introducing ...School Guide, Edinburgh
Welcome to this trailer for the School Guide Edinburgh. A podcast series where I chat to top independent school heads ahead of the open day season. I hope this series will help you on your journey to find the right school for your child.
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