The Mary Erskine School A GSG School
- The Mary Erskine School
Ravelston
Edinburgh
EH4 3NT - Head: Kirsty Nicholson
- T 0131 347 5700
- F 0131 347 5799
- E mesadmissions@esms.org.uk
- W www.esms.org.uk
- An independent school for girls aged from 12 to 18.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Edinburgh, City of
- Pupils: 761; sixth formers: 120 (co-ed with Stewart’s Melville College)
- Religion: Non-denominational
- Fees: Day £16,041; Boarding £31,383 - £32,190 pa
- Open days: September
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- Linked schools: ESMS Junior School, Stewart's Melville College
What The Good Schools Guide says..
ESMS follows the diamond model of education so the boys and girls are educated together at the junior school, separately in the senior school from 12–17 and back to a co-ed set up in S6. Teaching is highly praised. ‘Teachers create enthusiasm that isn’t in your natural area of interest, with the ability to capture imagination and foster the skills you have.’ However, in contrast to…
What the school says...
The Mary Erskine School is part of ESMS, a vibrant, friendly, family of schools, set in beautiful grounds in the heart of Edinburgh.
We are a diamond school with a co-educational Junior School and Sixth Form. Girls move to The Mary Erskine School for the early years of secondary school allowing them to find their voices, ignore stereotypes and become confident, secure, ambitious young women. At Sixth Form pupils return to a co-educational learning environment to prepare them for life after school. This provides girls with the best of both worlds.
At The Mary Erskine School your daughter will flourish in an environment of academic excellence. She will work at a pace that suits her development. She will experience unrivalled opportunities to challenge herself, discover what she is capable of and excel in ways she never thought possible.
Our pupils leave the school with lifelong friendships, ready to take their place in society as strong leaders and role-models for other women. ...Read more
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What The Good Schools Guide says
Head
Since 2018, Mrs Kirsty Nicholson. Geography degree from Edinburgh followed by teacher training at Jordanhill College in Glasgow. Taught in London state schools for a few years before moving back to Edinburgh. Has taught geography at ESMS ever since – both at Stewart's Melville College and The Mary Erskine School, as well as being head of house at Mary Erskine. Still keeps her hand in, teaching to first years at Mary Erskine. Relaxed and quite quirky, parents rate her highly, appreciating that she knows the school inside out. Married to Douglas with three grown-up children. Cycles to school every morning on her electric bike for environmental reasons and to keep fit, and enjoys Pilates. Sometimes can be caught doing a Zoom session with her personal trainer in her office too.
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Special Education Needs
We offer support for learning, both in class and in small extracted groups. In the first year some pupils are given the option to do one modern language instead of two, allowing support to be delivered instead. Further up the school, some pupils will continue to follow a reduced timetable depending on their needs.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | Y |
| Aspergers | Y |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | Y |
| Dysgraphia | Y |
| Dyslexia | Y |
| Dyspraxia | Y |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | Y |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | Y |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | Y |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | Y |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | Y |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | Y |
| PD - Physical Disability | Y |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment | Y |
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