Military & FCDO Families

A Stable Companion for Service Families

When your life involves change - new postings, different countries, upheaval - your child needs one thing above all: stability.

Belhaven understands service families because we are a service family school. We're proud to support Military and FCDO children with the consistency, care, and certainty they need to thrive.

10% School Status

From 1st September 2025, Belhaven Hill has been a '10% school' for eligible Military families receiving the Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) for children aged 7-13.

This confirms our commitment to providing the full boarding prep school education that service families need.

We are extremely proud to be associated with the Armed Forces and we also have children here whose parents are in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Why Service Families Choose Belhaven

Certainty & Stability

Our fortnightly boarding model (now exceptionally rare) provides crucial certainty:

Friends alongside them in rooms for the full fortnight
An exceptional pastoral team who truly know them
Action-packed weekend activities with a full House
Total immersion in their education and friendships
Stability and consistency while parents are posted elsewhere

We don't offer flexi or weekly boarding because we believe full boarding provides the security service children need. When you're managing postings and potential deployments, you need to know your child is safe, settled, and thriving.

What service Families Say

"Belhaven has been a lifeline for us as a diplomatic family. Our eldest son started last year and loved it so much his 9-year-old brother followed soon after. Their confidence and zest for life has grown immeasurably since starting at the school. And with individual support for the 10+ exam, our eldest has been accepted into his first choice of senior school. We are very impressed with the combination of family atmosphere and outstanding learning support for the needs of every child".

Lyon family, Muscat

Belhaven provides a wonderfully supportive, nurturing and challenging environment for our daughter, with a continuity of education that allows us to move from post to post in full confidence that she is receiving an excellent education. For her part, our daughter has found Belhaven to be an extremely welcoming and friendly environment, and one that allows children to be themselves and to thrive; tree-climbing is one of her favourite activities, apparently! In selecting the school, we were particularly keen on the full-boarding ethos of Belhaven, knowing that our daughter will always have weekends packed with activities, and that her friends will remain alongside her. Knowing that she is receiving first-class pastoral support, in a boarding house that feels homely for her (I'm now losing count of the number of teddies that have migrated from to her dorm!), is certainly an important reassurance when we are located some distance away.

Atkins family, Istanbul

Belhaven is Renowned for Award-Winning Adventures

Winner of 'Best for Outdoor Pursuits' (The Week Awards 2025), our weekend programme includes skiing, sailing, surfing, coasteering, paddle-boarding, archery, cooking, riding, golf, and simply having fun with friends.

Excellent Transport Connections

Transport is straightforward:

Accompanied train service to London King's Cross every fortnight
Dedicated school buses to Northumberland, Dumfries, Perth, Dundee, Stonehaven
40 minutes from Edinburgh Airport
Dunbar is on the A1 and East Coast Main Line

We understand military logistics. We'll work with you to make transport as smooth as possible.

Non-selective with an Aspirational Ethos

After 2 or 3 different schools, Belhaven offers a stable, nurturing, ambitious education that meets your family's needs in every regard. We're non-selective but highly aspirational, and every child is pushed to be their best.

Our children progress to the UK's top senior schools with an exceptional record of scholarships in academics, sport, music, art, drama, and all-round achievement.

Interviews with Military Families

Military Family – Girls' Boarding
Current parent, Connie, talks about her daughter's experience of boarding at Belhaven from aged 8 and why joining the School has been the 'best decision they ever made'.

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Military Family – Boys' Boarding
Old Belhavian Monty (2024) and his father talk about their experience as a military family at Belhaven – why they think it is a good choice for other military families and why joining the '10% club' from 1st September 2025 is so positive for military children.

We'd love to discuss how Belhaven could support your family.

Ready to Talk? Olivia Reynolds, Admissions | admissions@belhavenhill.com | +44 (0)1368 658510