One of the leading schools in Scotland with a strong academic and sporting record and a reputation for drama, music and technology, Merchiston lies close by the Pentland Hills on the outskirts of Edinburgh. A broad curriculum prepares pupils for GCSE and A levels or Scottish Highers. The majority of the Sixth Form go on to universities including Oxford and Cambridge.
The main games are Rugby, Cricket, Athletics and Swimming, with notable achievements to their credit: many other sports also flourish - eg Fencing, Squash, Fives, Shooting and Tennis.
Music, Drama and Debating are also strong features. Recent Choir tours - Far East. 1992 - USA, 1998 - Canada.
Facilities include a purpose-built Theatre, a Computing and Electronics block, CDT centre, indoor Swimming Pool, Sports hall, Shooting Range, Squash and Fives Courts. The School prides itself on its care for the individual, on maintaining close links with parents at home and abroad (regular parents' meetings/news letters etc), on its close monitoring of academic progress (4-weekly report cards and assessments), small classes, high teacher pupil ratio of 1 to 8, on its method of advising pupils and parents of GCSE, A level, Highers choices and University/Polytechnic applications. A further feature is its careers advice, including the unique scheme involving pupils in the first year of the Sixth Form spending a week on work attachment and a week on a leadership course and some on Science/Technology course in France.
The aim of the school is to encourage every boy to work hard, to take a pride in achievement, to think independently, to accept challenges and responsibility and to develop wider skills and interests.
Alumni - The Merchistonian Club: members world-wide.
