Merchiston Castle School
Merchiston is the only boys’ independent boarding school in Scotland, offers the English curriculum, and has a global, outward-looking dimension.
The School has an impressive record of helping boys excel beyond their predictions. The latest academic results at every level offer clear evidence of value added and commitment to leading students towards personal excellence. Furthermore, boys have gained places at some of the leading British, Ivy League and other outstanding international universities, including Oxford and Cambridge.
Merchiston prides itself on fostering the pursuit of excellence in a sport-for-all environment. The school believes in teaching an understanding of the role of sport and physical activity in achieving an active and healthy lifestyle.
Merchiston’s specialist academies are at the top of their game: No.1 Junior Golf School in the UK (the fifth year running) and No.2 World Tennis School 2017.*
Jonathan Anderson, Headmaster, comments: ‘Being a boarding school means that whether a pupil joins us as a boarder, or a day boy, learning and fun opportunities are not limited to school hours but continue throughout the day, evening and weekend – on our pitches, in our classrooms, and in our Houses. The calendar is always full at Merchiston. Our small community means that there is ample opportunity for every boy to engage in many aspects of school life which, in a positive way, can encourage each individual to step out of his comfort zone and try something new, or discover a hidden talent! I truly believe that Merchiston is a remarkable place for boys to make lifelong friends while gaining a world-class education. We ensure that our pupils are excited about their promising futures and are ready to contribute to, and shape, the world of tomorrow.’
Another aspect of the boys-only philosophy is that time is regularly set aside to meet girls from sister schools, Kilgraston and St George’s. This allows the boys to focus on study in school time, but also to have plenty of opportunities to socialize and make friends through curricular, co-curricular and social links. * Independent Schools Golf Association / International School Sport Federation Outstanding off the field…* • 100% overall pass rate at A Level. •50% of grades achieved at A Level were A*/A. •95% of pupils gained places at their first or second choice university. •69% of pupils went to UK Russell Group Universities, Bath, St Andrews and leading international institutions. •SAT support clinics for applicants for American Universities. Students have gained admission to Ivy League Universities, such as Cornell and Brown. •66% of grades achieved at GCSE were A*/A or 9/8/7 level. •41% of grades achieved at GCSE were A* or 9/8 level. •Member of the World Leading Schools Association – the only School in Scotland! * Interim Academic Results 2017/18 And on the field… • No.1 UK Junior Ranking Golf School (ISGA, 2017/18). • No.2 World Tennis School (ISF, 2017). • Representation in all of the 2017/18 Scottish National Rugby Teams. • In 2016/17, 89% of all pupils, from 7-18, represented the School in
sport. • In 2016/17, there were 73 different teams, of all abilities, playing
competitive fixtures across 16 sports: a total of 539 fixtures. • Wide range of sports available, such as athletics, cricket and hockey,
suitable for boys of all abilities.