Testimonies

Rachael

As a parent of a child in Mannafields Christian School, I have benefited a lot. My character is changing just by seeing and experiencing the kindness of the Mannafields community. Not to mention praying for each other. I am usually amused by the questions that my daughter comes up with when we manage to get the time to read the Bible together. Her insight, her asking appropriate questions and her thoughts on the text increase my insight too. Mr Taylor’s Friday assemblies are liked by the pupils and to think of how long he has been committed to the work, it’s just a blessing. My daughter is developing in her knowledge of God and continues to grow in her faith. I believe this is true for all pupils, as it comes through their conversations as they play, even outside school. As a parent, I feel people are very kind and thoughtful in their words and actions. This is now a challenge for me to do the same. Indeed, Mannafields is a mission ground.

I have grown as a person, and this is very valuable to me as otherwise, life’s aims could have been unachievable. The fees itself are at par with what I have paid before for just after-school childcare, yet the provision for growth and nurturing are many. I cannot speak highly enough of Mannafields. I would like to thank everyone for being a source of support to each other when it’s needed most and wish the school every success in its endeavours.

April 2025

Nicole

My family and I have found Mannafields Christian School to be a Christ-centred environment where academic excellence is nurtured through personalised learning with a caring and a supportive ethos. With a flexible schedule that complements a blended homeschooling approach, the school is dedicated to helping each child grow in faith, character, and knowledge.

April 2025

Heather

Our three children have attended Mannafields from Primary 1 upwards. They have all benefited greatly from the small class sizes that facilitate individualised learning. The teachers know each of them so well, and are therefore able to provide the right level of challenge within all the various subjects, providing additional support when needed and stretching them academically for subjects in which they excel. The teachers also show genuine care towards each one, seeking to model and articulate the importance of character traits such as kindness, respect and empathy. Another important strength is the cohesion between the worldviews at church, home and school – our children are consistently taught from a Biblical perspective about life in all its varied applications.

Through the excellent teaching provided at Mannafields, our oldest child has developed great confidence in public speaking and leadership, even having opportunity to teach her peers a term of coding, which was a particular interest of hers at that time. She is now thriving within a large state secondary school, in no small part due to the solid foundations built during these nine years that she attended Mannafields.

A particular strength of Mannafields is the Christ-centred curriculum, as all of learning points to the truth that everything was made by Him and for Him. As our children have learned about His attributes in the termly projects, they have made clear connections with how this is seen in the world around them. From the order of maths and the beauty of the arts, to the wonder of science – from the vast universe to the clever design of the tiny ant – it all celebrates that Jesus is Lord of all.

April 2025

Emma

I attended Mannafields Christian School from P1 in 1991 until the end of S2 in 2001. To this day I remain thankful for the friendships I made and the teachers and staff who contributed to my education. My siblings attended the school and my parents were involved in many different roles; like most families in the school community they were deeply devoted to the cause of Christian Education and volunteered their time and skills to build the foundations of Mannafields, not just for their own children but for generations to come.

In the first few years of my schooling Mannafields was based at Carberry Tower Estate in East Lothian. It was here that I formed some of my earliest friendships – people who I remain close to more than 30 years later. When the school relocated to Easter Road in central Edinburgh, I was midway through primary school and thriving in our small composite classes with a God-centred curriculum.

Mr Mike Taylor and his puppet, Mickey the monkey were a constant feature at our Friday assemblies throughout my entire time at Mannafields and his Bible reading drills and the praise and worship songs he led us in have stuck with me throughout my life. Many individual teachers made a lasting impression on me. When I transitioned from Mannafields at the end of S2 and moved to a state high school to complete S4 – S6 I found that not only was I comfortably at the same academic level as my peers (actually, ahead), but that my teachers at Mannafields had imparted a passion for their subjects that I took with me in to my further education. Mrs Davis’ enthusiasm for poetry and Shakespeare memorisation is to thank for the fact that I can still recite large chunks of Shakespeare to this day, and I remain a lover of poetry. As for science, I must acknowledge Mr Ackerman’s contribution in this regard as I went on to excel in science at high school and from there went on to Medical School at the University of Glasgow, graduating as a doctor in 2009.

As a parent of three children, when it came to choosing a school for them my husband and I had different experiences and views on the subject but I shared with him the unique experiences I’d had of praying before classes, studying and memorising the Bible at school, and of being friends with children whose parents shared similar values to mine and who were invested in a close-knit Christian community. My positive experience, coupled with our concerns regarding the anti-religious values of government education leaders (both in Australia and Scotland) persuaded my husband to consider this for our children and when we toured a local Christian school he was convinced.

So to all the staff, parents and volunteers at Mannafields: thank you for your vision and commitment to Christian Education and to excellence in education. I have personally benefited in countless ways including the strengthening of my foundational Christian faith, lasting friendships, academic achievements, and a lifelong passion for learning. My children have benefitted from my positive experience leading us to seek similar experiences for them in their education, and they are blessed to have the same opportunities to pray daily in class with their teachers, worship God at school alongside their friends, learn the Bible as part of their homework and belong to a close knit Christian community.

Dr Emma Scott, former pupil

March 2025

Phil

I joined Mannafields in 1988, the year it opened, and received my primary school education there. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, in many ways, it laid the foundation for the rest of my life.

The encouragement I received in music, drama, arts and crafts, creative writing, and reading – where I enthusiastically worked through much of Roald Dahl’s work – shaped my interests in ways I could never have imagined at the time. Most significantly, my early exposure to German at Mannafields played a lasting role in guiding my academic and professional path towards foreign languages.

The school’s greatest strength lies in its deeply rooted Christian ethos, which fosters mentoring relationships and genuine friendships among students and teachers. This ethos was embodied by Mr. Ackerman, my teacher from Primary 4 to 7, who exemplified joyfulness, patience, curiosity, and kindness. Having followed in his footsteps and become a teacher myself, I now recognize the ways in which his influence has borne fruit in my own interactions with students at the university where I teach.

Another hallmark of Mannafields was the creativity of its teachers and administrators in planning field trips and extracurricular activities. Three stand out vividly in my memory, though there were many more: orienteering on the vast and beautiful grounds of Carberry Tower, sand sculpture on Gullane Beach, and log hut building at Glen Feshie. These experiences not only enriched my education but also instilled a deep love for exploration and the outdoors. Mannafields was also where I developed my passion for football—a sport I still play more than twenty years later.

Looking back, I am deeply grateful for the formative years I spent at Mannafields. The combination of academic encouragement, creative opportunities, and a strong Christian foundation left an indelible mark on my life, shaping both my career and my personal values.

Philip M. M. Sced (class of 1993)

PhD candidate (English Literature) National Changhua University of Education, Taiwan

MA (Chinese) Edin.

March 2025

Twinkle

Enrolling my children at Mannafields has been one of the best decisions we’ve made since moving to Scotland from Singapore. They have experienced many transitions, and one of my biggest concerns was that my older child – who is quite reserved and shy – might feel overwhelmed in a new school environment. However, since joining Mannafields, I have seen him blossom – he has grown in confidence and now navigates different environments beyond home and family with greater ease.

Both my children love school – their friends, teachers, and everything they are learning. They come home every day eager to share positive stories about their day. I have also been deeply impressed by the curriculum, which is diverse, academically rigorous, has real-world relevance, age-appropriate, and tailored to each child’s progress. Most importantly, it is values-driven – my children will especially recount to me stories they have learnt in school and the morals in those narratives.

A special mention must go to the incredible teachers at Mannafields. Their dedication and love for the children are evident in the nurturing care they provide. Each child is truly seen, known, and cherished. I believe that the strong, positive relationships between teachers and students create a safe and supportive environment where every child can thrive.

March 2025

Edward

Three of my children have been pupils at Mannafields Christian School since February 2023, all having previously attended a state primary school. Since their move to Mannafields, I have seen all three benefit from the advantages of their new school, including the Christian ethos, smaller class sizes, more individual attention from teachers and other staff, higher academic standards, better behavioural culture, and increased opportunities for discussion on various topics.

I am very happy with the service provided for my children by Mannafields and regard the move from the state school to have benefitted my children in almost every aspect of their education experience.

March 2025