Fettes College: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Fettes College is a private school located in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was founded in 1870 as the result of a large bequest by Sir William Fettes, a wealthy Edinburgh merchant, in memoriam of his son, also called William Fettes, who died in 1815.

The school was all male until 1970 when girls were first allowed in the final year. Since 1983 it has been fully co-educational. The school admits both daytime-only and boarding pupils. The school is exclusive in that prospective pupils must pass entrance exams in order to being considered for admission and that fees are charged (around GBP £13,500 per year for a daytime-only senior-school-age pupil). The school offers scholarships to exceptionally talented applicants. These scholarships may in turn be topped up with bursaries if the applicant's financial standing so warrants.

The college's main building blends the design of a Loire château with elements of the 19th century Scottish Baronial style. The combination, and the siting of the building in the midst of its own spacious grounds, makes Fettes an important landmark.

Famous alumni

Current British Prime Minister Tony Blair is an alumnus of the college. He attended the school from 1966 to 1971.

The co-author of 1066 and All That, W.C. Sellar, was Head Boy in 1917 and later taught at the school.

In fiction

Whilst expanding on James Bond's backstory, Ian Fleming wrote in You Only Live Twice that the spy had attended Fettes College having being expelled from Eton College.