Houseparent (Girls House)

Belhaven is a happy and thriving co-educational prep school with a warm and welcoming atmosphere and ethos. Pupils aged between 6 and 13 come from all over Scotland and the north of England and are joined by a small but important group of international pupils. Currently, approximately 60% of the school board whilst 40% attend daily. Founded in 1923 as a boys' boarding school, is has been genuinely co-ed since 1995. A significant majority of the children board for their last two or three years. Boarders stay at the school on a fortnightly cycle, where they go home every two weeks from Friday lunchtime until Sunday evening or Monday morning. 'Weekends in' therefore see the school full of children enjoying a range of activities, making friendships that last for a lifetime. Currently, the school is investing in an exciting Digital Education programme as well as continuing to exploit its enviable position on the East Lothian coastline via an expanded Outdoor Education curriculum. The encouragement to the children to have a go and to learn via experience is pervasive and creates confident young people, ready and eager for the next stage of their education.

The main school building is a handsome listed mansion, dating from 1760. Five large rooms and an additional storey were added in 1900 and there have been further extensions in recent years. Boys have their dormitories in the main building and there is a separate girls' house across the lawn: both are comfortable and welcoming. The main house has been undergoing a rolling programme of refurbishment and redecoration in recent years, enhancing dormitories and common rooms and creating a new library and computer room. A new classroom block, music school and art building have all been created since 2000. Many of the teaching staff live within the lovely grounds which extend to 20 acres, with accommodation in either the old stable block or the south lodge. There are fine playing fields, a small astroturf pitch, a sports hall, a heated outdoor swimming pool, grass tennis courts, a croquet lawn, putting green and children's gardens within the walled garden. Between the rear of the school and the sea is a golf club, of which the senior children can become members and play rounds in the evenings and at weekends.

The school is a charitable trust run by a Board of Governors. The Head reports to the Governors and attends meetings of the full Board and its sub-committees.