Andrew Hunter

Merchiston castle School

What has made you proudest in the past 12 months?

Merchiston being the first Scottish school to succeed in establishing an international school abroad, Merchiston Castle International School, Shenzhen (MCISS) in China for 1,200 pupils, of whom 600 will be boarders, MCISS opens in September. In November, I was present, alongside leading governors, at the official signing ceremony in Shenzhen. This project started with a conversation with a former Merchiston parent in my lounge in 2014. We are pleased to be exporting one of the most important aspects of Scotland, education. Future funding from MCISS to Merchiston, Edinburgh, will allow sustained meanstested financial assistance to pupils who would otherwise be unable to attend Merchiston..

What is your favourite way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

Running a boarding school means that Sunday afternoon in term time is slightly different. I am so proud of the house staff in this school and I admire them looking after the boys on Sunday afternoon activities on or off the campus. Then I enjoy driving to one of Edinburgh’s amazing swimming pools to swim a mile. Then I catch up with some work, read my Sunday paper on line, have a family roast dinner before going to evening chapel for spiritual nourishment. Andrew Hunter, 59, teaches English and religious studies. He is married with three grownup children.