Merchiston Castle School A GSG School
- Merchiston Castle School
294 Colinton Road
Edinburgh
EH13 0PU - Head: Jonathan Anderson
- T 0131 3122201
- F 01314 416060
- E [email protected]
- W www.merchiston.co.uk
- An independent school for boys aged from 7 to 18.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Edinburgh, City of
- Pupils: 400; sixth formers: 121
- Religion: Christian Inter-denominational
- Fees: Day: £17,190 - £29,250; Boarding: £28,830 - £40,320 pa
- Open days: September/October and March
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Traditional – good manners, boys say ma’am when they greet you – but with a modern, international outlook. ‘The Merchiston culture stood out above other schools. Just a polish about the boys, quietly confident and a camaraderie that I really liked,’ a parent reported about their first visit to the school. ‘Merchi’ boys are most commonly tantalised by STEM and sport, we heard – but not all, of course, and because it’s a small school every type of boy is supported to find their niche. The best views of Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills are from the music department, and while we were told that the choir may not…
What the school says...
Merchiston is the only boys’ independent boarding school in Scotland, offers the English curriculum, and has a global, outward-looking dimension. We take pride in specializing in the education of boys and preparing them for the world, as we have for over 175 years, developing aspirational, and sensitive, yet gentle-men! Think about a wonderfully caring and nurturing family environment, where they will learn to like learning more.
With an ethos based on traditional values, Merchiston encourages self-reliance and independence, as well as respect for and tolerance of others. Our main objective is to motivate pupils to try their hardest and to strive to achieve the highest levels possible in all areas - firstly academic, then cultural, sporting, leadership, and simply living together as part of a community. ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Sports
Rowing
Shooting
What The Good Schools Guide says
Headmaster
Since 2018, Jonathan Anderson, previously senior deputy head at Worksop College. Hailing from Northern Ireland, he has a geography degree from Queen’s Belfast and PGCE from Ulster University. Joined Christ’s Hospital as a geography teacher and was promoted to assistant housemaster and housemaster. After nearly 14 years, he moved to Worksop.
Wants to take a gentler, warmer approach to leading the school and has relooked at its vision and values to create a welcoming atmosphere with happiness and self-belief both in sharp focus. This was reiterated by parents: ‘Mr Anderson is so approachable. When walking on the grounds, he stops and has a chat.’ ‘He knows all the parents by Christian names and responds to any enquiries immediately.’ ‘A normal guy,’ was the majority view. No pretensions, down to earth.
Married to Bethan, a publisher, with two daughters. A keen cyclist, he also enjoys skiing and scuba diving.
Entrance
Entry into junior school by online assessment, plus interview. Senior school entry at 13+ from prep schools via CE or exams in maths, English and science, plus interview and school report. Automatic entry from the junior school (around 30 pupils per year). Entry to the sixth form at 16 (very popular with international students) depends on ‘a successful showing’ in GCSE or National 4 and National 5 examinations as well as on interview, internal examination and a school report. ‘Our approach to examination is very personal and we strive to make this as accessible as possible by facilitating online testing wherever possible,’ school tells us. Entry is possible in all three terms, where vacancies permit. Head says, ‘While there is entry screening, we are proud to add value across the ability ranges.’
School plans to add pre-prep provision from age 3 starting in 2024: watch this space.
Exit
A tiny percentage leave post GCSEs. Just over half of sixth form leavers to Russell Group. Scottish universities popular, eg Aberdeen and St Andrews, but Newcastle and Exeter currently feature. Two medics in 2023 and just one overseas to prestigious Berklee College of Music.
Latest results
In 2023, 52 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 28 per cent A*/A at A level (57 per cent A*-B). At National 5, 100 per cent A-C; at Higher, 58 per cent A-B; at Advanced Higher, 93 per cent A. In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 57 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 73 per cent A*-B at A level.
Teaching and learning
‘Whatever they are harnessing in terms of my son’s enthusiasm for learning, if you could bottle it you could make a fortune – they have generations of experience teaching boys and know what makes boys ticks,’ a parent told us. ‘Merchi’ boys are most commonly tantalised by STEM and sport, we heard – but not all, of course, and because it’s a small school every type of boy is supported to find their niche.
Junior school pupils aged 7-10 are taught in the Pringle Teaching Centre with their own dedicated classroom teachers. At 11 and 12 they attend classes taught by senior school specialist teachers in languages, maths, science and the arts. At 13 they move to the senior school (no entrance exam) where they predominantly follow an English curriculum. A few combine A Levels with Scottish Highers. English language and English literature remain popular – and of the humanities, geography is most appealing, particularly to those from a farming background. Two science subjects recommended for GCSE and a trend towards business-related subjects, with good numbers choosing A level economics and a new BTEC in enterprise and entrepreneurship (A level equivalent) in sixth form. Super to see creativity being harnessed in DT, where we watched boys using 3D modelling software to create miniature houses as fridge magnets. Additionally, design engineering is available at A level and electronics at GCSE. Staff say competitions stimulate creativity and the boys impressively had gained two places in the final of the Digi Inventors Challenge competition at Expo 2021 Dubai. Small class sizes and good teacher-to-pupil ratio. High praise for teachers from parents: ‘My top thing is the commitment of the academic staff,’ said one, while another told us about the ‘fabulous teachers who just want the best for the boys’.
Numbers small in MFL (French, German, Spanish) beyond GCSE. Headmaster is ‘bitterly fighting the trend away from languages’ – and out of Latin, Russian and Mandarin, the latter seems to be bucking the trend, with opportunities for exchanges with Merchiston’s international school in Shenzhen, China.
Saturday is a normal school day for both boarders and day pupils with lessons in the morning followed by sports fixtures.
Learning support and SEN
As well as in-class learning support, the Harvey Hub is allocated at the centre of school for drop-in sessions or timetabled group lessons. Timetabled catch-up sessions are also available for any pupils who have tennis or golf academy commitments. Boys with a range of needs are catered for as long as they are able to access the curriculum.
The arts and extracurricular
The best views of Edinburgh and the Pentland Hills are from the music department and while we were told that the choir may not lift the roof off as in some other competitor schools, participation is high, with over half the boys playing an instrument and singing in the choir, with plenty of performing at school service days and events. Variety of co-curricular bands including jazz, ceilidh and pipe bands. A rendition of Mairi’s Wedding by the pipe band at a practice session in the school’s stunning Memorial Hall (chapel) had our feet stomping. Currently drama is not available at exam level, but LAMDA lessons are available using external coaches and there is a co-curricular club that produces two productions annually (one junior school, one senior). Recent productions include A Christmas Carol and The Twits. A visit to the huge art studio revealed a beautiful, light-filled space with tables and walls adorned with pupils’ work.
Plenty of other co-curricular activities, from engineering to Masterchef (cooking classes with a yearly competition). ‘The boys are completely occupied till 10pm at night,’ a parent told us. CCF is flourishing and has its own rifle range built into the school walls. We dropped by to see the cadets doing some drills and had a chat with CCF contingent commander about its role in forming the basis of vital life skills like self-discipline, self-motivation, time management and preparing the boys for teamwork in the real world. Sister school – St George’s School for Girls – has merged with Merchiston’s CCF and they train together during the summer term.
We caught up with the young farmers of the future hopping onto the minibus for their weekly visit to Penicuik House to care for livestock (feeding, fencing, moving sheep, learning to ride tractors). During spring they bring the lambs to the junior school to allow the younger pupils to feed them.
Sport
What Merchiston lacks in music credentials (in comparison to some of its local competitors, that is) it makes up for in sport. Make no mistake, ‘rugby is a religion here,’ we heard. Merchiston has produced 76 schoolboy internationalists since 1966, many going on to become full internationalists (64 in total so far). When we spoke with the boys, it was evident they were heroes to them. Their eyes lit up when they told us about Jamie Dobie, a former pupil and Scotland international rugby union player. During Covid, rugby and cricket internationals who were former pupils chatted with the boys via Zoom to help lift their spirits – a nice touch. Other main sports are cricket and athletics, though with over 20 sports to choose from altogether, there is something for everyone. Excellent website with an online calendar filled with daily fixtures and events including basketball, fives, hockey, football, cricket, cross country and rugby union. In sixth form, pupils can choose the sport of their choice and at all levels sport is seen as an important part of pupil development regardless of whether you are an elite tennis player or it’s just for fun and wellbeing. A parent told us, ‘The sports side does really stand out, but what Merchiston produces is an incredibly high standard of all-rounder.’
Good facilities include rifle range, golf nets, putting green, fives, tennis and squash courts, an indoor swimming pool (a couple of grumbles that this was closed for renovation during our visit) and sports hall. The director of sport told us, however, that it’s the quality of the coaches that’s most important – ‘We use leading national coaches here.’
The school established a tennis academy in 2007, with the addition of the dome in 2020 – an all-singing, all-dancing indoor tennis facility that’s ideal for training in the Scottish climate and is enabling the transition to some of the best colleges in the US. We watched these impressive young men in action while we chatted with the director of sport and the director of the tennis academy, avoiding some ferocious serves while doing so. ‘It’s a huge deal to have this facility – it has been a total game changer to have guaranteed indoor tennis all year round,’ we were told. Only school in Scotland that provides a specialist tennis programme and adapted academic curriculum. Students join the academy by invitation after passing an assessment (around 20-25 enrol per year). Also used by local tennis clubs for extracurricular activities. Ditto the golf academy, which enables young golfers to maximise their potential, with plenty of success stories, and help available for those applying for golf scholarships in the US.
Boarders
‘An all-boys boarding school works really well in the modern age – they remain extremely focused, are expertly channelled in the academics but also in the development of their characters on the field or elsewhere, and their heads are not turned in class,’ a parent reported. Boarders make up 65 per cent of the school population, rising to 80 per cent in sixth form.
Pringle House (juniors) sleeps a maximum of 46 full-time boarding boys in a very pretty whitewashed house with its own walled garden and Pringle pitch. Immediate impression of warmth and cosiness – homely dorms, den, spacious kitchen and comfy dayroom. A team of prefects from the upper sixth form live on site to provide additional support to the housemaster and team. In middle years (13–16-year-olds) progress through the three houses (shared and single rooms) by year group – Chalmers West (closed for refurbishment when we visited), Chalmers East and Rogerson. This means the boys share a house with others in their year. When they reach lower sixth, they move to the impressive, hotel-like Laidlaw House – popular with international students coming for sixth form. The two houses, Laidlaw North and South, are as attractive as each other; Evans House accommodates the day pupils. Contemporary and spacious with large common rooms popular for cinema nights, all rooms are ensuite. Six kitchens, in-house laundry and stunning views of Edinburgh – you can sometimes see all three of Scotland’s most impressive bridges lit up at night. It’s easy to see why it’s so popular.
Parents told us their children were always busy and having fun in the evenings – cinema and theatre trips or a social with their sister school, St George’s or Kilgraston (in normal times). Sunday service and trips to Edinburgh city centre, bowling, go-karting etc.
While there was a parental grumble about turnover of staff and housemasters, most put this down to Covid and eagerly await the new team and its leader. Overall, parents highly praised the ‘first-class boarding experience’, one reporting that his son says, ‘Dad, why would I want to come home when I could be with my friends?’
Ethos and heritage
School was founded in 1828 by Charles Chalmers. Moved to Merchiston Castle, an early 15th-century tower, in 1833. In 1930 moved three miles down the road to the current greenfield site at Colinton, four miles from the centre of Edinburgh. Present day buildings date from this time, though the original Colinton House now houses the science department.
Buildings set within 100 acres of park-like playing fields. Beautiful mature trees and exceptional views – lovely setting. Compact campus, buildings all quite close together – easy for boys to get from A to B quickly. Nothing flashy but everything well kept. Juniors in Pringle House are cosily tucked away in the south-west corner of the school grounds but still have easy access to and use of entire campus.
Dining hall with servery and buffet service. Boys praised the food and we can vouch that it was remarkably good. Beautiful entrance with blue tartan carpets that leads to the old library filled with trophies and awards, and upstairs to the impressive Memorial Hall, which doubles as a chapel and dance hall (for socials and reels with sister schools in normal times). Horizontal house system that ensures boys are in houses with their peers and are not competing against each other, plus a vertical clan system with four clans of boys of all ages that get to battle it out against each other.
Traditional – good manners, boys say ‘ma’am’ when they greet you – but with a modern, international outlook. ‘The Merchiston culture stood out above other schools. Just a polish about the boys, quietly confident and a camaraderie that I really liked,’ a parent reported about their first visit to the school.
Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline
Every boy has a weekly catch-up with his tutor which helps pick up any concerns. ‘Wellbeing is incredibly important to us,’ says head – and an array of support is on hand through house meetings, pupil support leadership team, deputy head of wellbeing, school councillor and medical team. One parent was particularly appreciative of the support provided by the chaplain to school families during the pandemic – ‘He sent an email every day. He comes across as such a caring, thought-provoking person, and helped see us through lockdown.’
School encourages tolerance, understanding and being open-minded. The head told us that because it is a boys’ school it allows conversations about topics that would perhaps make some boys feel uncomfortable or defensive in a co-ed environment. For example, group discussions about toxic masculinity not only educate boys but also gives them the opportunity to talk openly about any anxieties they have about getting it wrong. Zero tolerance of bullying.
The school has recently been in the press because of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry into historical sexual and physical child abuse to children in care in Scotland, which includes some boarding schools. School says, ‘Along with the other boarding schools involved in the Inquiry, Merchiston is committed to supporting Lady Smith’s findings into the sector and setting the standard in child protection and wellbeing going forward.’ With regards to the school’s current provision of pastoral care, a parent told us, ‘Pastoral care is first class.’
Pupils and parents
Parents strongly middle class, from those with great-great grandparents that were former pupils to first-time buyers and international families (currently 27 different nationalities). Lots from Edinburgh, others from further afield in Scotland and the UK. A parent reported, ‘There’s no hierarchy or snobbery, and I include the parents in that. Doesn’t matter if they are in education, farming or are a multi-millionaire businessperson. That’s pretty special – that doesn’t happen in all schools.’
Turns out well-mannered, courteous all-rounders. We were assured not all were sporty types and the boys worked just as hard in the classroom as on the playing field. ‘Some boys are not in the slightest bit sporty but they all seem to have just as much affinity with the school,’ a parent told us.
Money matters
Academic scholarships at 13+ and sixth form – school’s own exams. All-rounder scholarships, music, sport, art and design. No money off fees – awarded for the honour alone. Parents may apply for means-tested assistance (up to 100 per cent of fees). Reductions in fees for siblings attending ‘sister’ schools (St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh and Kilgraston School, Perth).
The last word
Scotland’s only boys’ boarding school, whose small size and small classes ensure boys receive a tailored education. Traditional but with a holistic approach so boys thrive wherever their talents lie. With its well-deserved reputation as a great rugby school, sport is a big deal here, but with an equally strong focus on academic commitment. Best of both worlds, with the city of Edinburgh on its doorstep and rural Scotland within easy reach.
Special Education Needs
Merchiston has a Learning Support Department which gives intensive 1:1 and 2:1 tuition, particularly in the Junior School. Prospective pupils go through an in depth assessment so that we can ascertain whether Merchiston would be a suitable school for them. This ensures that we know precisely the level of each pupil. The support thereafter is ongoing and adapted to that pupil's needs. Essentially, we are a mainstream school which can offer to help bright pupils requiring specific Learning Support, but who can independently access the curriculum in the Senior School up to and including GCSE and AS/A2 Level. 09-09
Condition | Provision for in school |
---|---|
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
Aspergers | Y |
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | Y |
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
Dyscalculia | |
Dysgraphia | |
Dyslexia | |
Dyspraxia | |
English as an additional language (EAL) | |
Genetic | |
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
Has SEN unit or class | Y |
HI - Hearing Impairment | |
Hospital School | |
Mental health | |
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
PD - Physical Disability | |
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 | |
VI - Visual Impairment |
Who came from where
School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Aldro | 2023 | 1 | ||
Craigclowan School | 2023 | 2 | 1 | 1 Piping |
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