Farewell to the Edwards

Adam Edwards, Headmaster of the Prep School 2003–2022 Jill Edwards, Teacher of Modern Languages in the Prep School 2008–2022

The Edwards family at the Fettes Prep School Prizegiving in 2022

Adam’s youngest years were spent in West Africa. He was educated at The Royal Grammar School in Colchester, followed by the University of London, Goldsmith’s College, and the University of Birmingham. He joined Gresham’s School in Norfolk in 1985 where he showcased, utilised and developed his broad array of talents nurturing his versatility in the classroom, in the boarding house in outdoor education, the CCF and in sport. He was a resident House Tutor, Head of History, Housemaster and Head of Boarding. He was heavily involved in both the CCF and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. He coached rugby, hockey and cricket and at one time regularly produced plays. It was at Gresham’s where Adam met his wife Jill and where they were when they had their four children – Henry, William, Robert and Catherine.

2004 – Adam and Jill Edwards

Jill was born near Norwich, she studied at UEA and then in Strasbourg before starting at Gresham’s where she taught French in both senior and prep schools. They lived in Edinburgh House at Gresham’s, leaving to come to Fettes when their youngest child, Catherine was just six months old.

After Adam’s first year as Headmaster of the Prep School, Michael Spens (Headmaster 1998–2017) said in his Founder’s Day Address:

The Fettes College Preparatory School has had an excellent year and has gone forward from strength to strength under the leadership of Mr Adam Edwards. He and his team have done a first class job, and the report on the year delivered by Mr Edwards at the Prep School Prize Giving yesterday was a delight to listen to. It is very significant that of the thirteen scholarships awarded for entry into the Senior School at 13+, nine were won by members of our own Prep School. This speaks volumes for the state of health of our Prep School and the quality of its pupils and Staff. Mr and Mrs Edwards have made a distinguished start to their tenure in the Prep School, and I am most grateful to them.

Growth and development of the Prep School under Adam Edwards

When Adam and Jill Edwards arrived there in 2003 there were 135 pupils in the Prep School. Ten years later in 2013 there were 197. Today, at the end of the Summer Term in 2022, there are 217 students in the Prep School.

As well as the growth in numbers, Adam has overseen many important improvements to the built environment at the Prep School, with the hugely successful development of bespoke classrooms and learning facilities in William House which opened in 2009, the creation of the very well used all weather play area, upgrades to boarding facilities in Arran and Iona House and the recently installed new poly-tunnel to name a few.

Prep staffing and expertise has evolved to support unique small class sizes for that nurturing environment.

Adam and Jill have been a marvellous team and are leaving a very strong Prep School built on kindness and a commitment to the all-round education of every child for which we are most grateful. Prep pupils develop a broad set of skills preparing them to thrive during their senior school education and develop confidence and self-awareness that sets them up for life.

The whole Edwards family have grown-up at Fettes and lived together on campus in Malcolm House throughout Adam’s tenure. All four of the Edwards’ children have thrived at Fettes in all aspects of school life (just like their parents).

Henry Edwards (Inv-Gl 2003–2011): At Fettes: Captain of 1st XI Cricket; Scotland under 19 Cricket; Vice-captain of 1st XI Hockey; 1st V Squash; 1st IV Fives; Colour Sergeant and Head of Section CCF; House Prefect; College Cap; The Challenge Clock for Most Outstanding Sportsman. Beyond Fettes: Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching from Oxford Brookes University; PGCE with QTS, Physical Education from the University of Buckingham; Graduate Sports Coach and Resident Housemaster at Royal Hospital School; Head of Academic PE at Ryde School.

William Edwards (Inv-Gl 2003–2014): At Fettes: School Prefect; House Prefect; Vice Captain 1st XV Rugby, Full Colours; Captain 1st XI Cricket, Full Colours; Scotland Under 19 Cricket; Green Gang; Hugo Fraser Award. Beyond Fettes: Bachelor’s Degree in History from Kings College London; Currently working for Nike in the Netherlands as Marketplace Operations Lead for Nike Direct responsible for the supply chain of Nike’s Franchise stores in EMEA as well as looking after their fleet expansion.

Robert Edwards (PS-Gl 2008–2019): At Fettes: 2nd XV, 2nd Hockey (vice-captain), Captain 1st XI Cricket, Full Colours; Scotland Under 19 Cricket; 2nd Football; Spanish Guitar; MSPF; College Cap; DofE Bronze. Beyond Fettes: Final year undergraduate studying a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Science at the University of Bath. Cricket XI University of Bath. Hoping to work in Data Analytics.

MCC Match in May 2019 with Robert as Captain of the Fettes XI and Henry playing for the MCC

Catherine Edwards (PS-CE 2010–2021): At Fettes: All-Rounder Award; School Prefect; House Prefect; 2nd XI Hockey; 1st Girls’ Cricket Captain; Scotland Under 19 Cricket; Athletics; Squash; Governors’ & Bannatyne Thomson Memorial Prizes for Physical Education; Hugo Fraser Prize; College Colours & Cap; DofE Silver. Beyond Fettes: Catherine is on a gap year and is playing cricket and coaching men, women and juniors. Catherine is going to the University of Edinburgh to study Applied Sport Sciences in autumn 2022.

Adam and Jill Edwards and their family in 2012

William and the XI celebrating a win in 2014

Catherine, Captain of Girls Cricket, Summer 2021

On behalf of the many Fettesians who have passed through the Prep School since 2003 we all wish the Edwards family well in their lives ahead.