Merchiston Castle School
Merchiston is the only all-boys’ independent boarding and day school in Scotland offering the English curriculum, and has a global, outward-looking dimension. Merchiston takes pride in specialising in the education of boys and preparing them for the world, developing aspirational and sensitive gentlemen. Think about a wonderfully caring and nurturing family environment, where they will learn to like learning more.
Merchiston is committed to leading students towards ‘personal excellence’ and has an impressive record of helping boys excel far beyond their expected results at GCSE/IGCSE and A Level. Currently, the school’s extra-mural initiatives include entry for the Mathematics and Physics Challenges and Olympiads, English Speaking Board examinations, foreign language trips, Arkwright Scholarships in design and technology, and many others.
Boarding life
Merchiston provides a stimulating, challenging, yet supportive and encouraging environment where your son can grow up surrounded by his friends within the school’s unique house structure. There is never a dull moment as the school provides a full boarding programme seven days a week. Merchiston Juniors offers a step-up boarding programme which gives day pupils and their parents an opportunity to see how the boarders live and to participate in the boarding experience.
Essentially, Merchiston is about relationships and partnerships – between the boys and the staff, and between the school and the home of each pupil.
Co-curricular
The co-curricular programme at Merchiston delivers life skills, such as: leadership, teamwork, and mentoring through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, Combined Cadet Force, prefectship, Koinonia and other activities.
Music and drama are major parts of life at Merchiston. These departments collaborate regularly and pupils of all ages have the chance to be involved, either performing on stage or working behind the scenes. These is an orchestra, pipe bands and a choir and choral society. Merchiston also benefits from its strong links with local girls’ schools for drama and musical performances, other cultural events and social gatherings.
Plans for the future
The school has, over the past 40 years, built new teaching facilities and boarding accommodation to support its pupils’ high academic aspirations. Merchiston is now turning its attention to upgrading its sporting facilities: plans have been drawn up to construct a new sports complex consisting of two multi-use sports halls, a large fitness suite, dedicated classrooms and meeting spaces, a six-lane 25 metre swimming pool, and uniquely in Scotland, an all-weather multi-purpose 3G artificial grass playing surface.