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Merchiston Castle School

United Kingdom, Edinburgh

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees £18,000 - 50,706
Ages 7 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 400
Type Boys School, Boys School (boarding)
Opened 1833
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Typical class size 15
Strengths Sport, Academic Enrichment, Outdoor Education
Clubs Lifestyle and Wellbeing, Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional
Stages Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Merchiston Castle School is the only boys' independent boarding school in Scotland, set on 100 acres of parkland in Edinburgh. Founded in 1833 by Charles Chalmers, the school serves boys aged 7 to 18 across Junior, Middle, and Sixth Form divisions. The school follows the English curriculum with GCSEs and A Levels, achieving a 100% A Level pass rate. Merchiston is ranked No. 1 in the UK for both tennis and golf at school level. The school is intentionally small, ensuring every pupil is known and supported individually. It holds memberships of HMC, ISC, SCIS, BSA, and UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Silver Award. Saturday electives expand learning beyond the standard timetable. Graduates have gone on to Ivy League schools and top UK universities.

294 Colinton Rd, Edinburgh EH13 0PU, United Kingdom

The Essentials

Merchiston Castle School has 400 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.

Location
Merchiston Castle School sits on 100 acres of parkland on Colinton Road in south-west Edinburgh. The campus is well connected to Edinburgh city centre, about 3 miles away. Edinburgh Airport is approximately 20 minutes by car. The city has direct rail links to London and other major UK cities, making it accessible for domestic and international families.

Stages
The school has four divisions: The Forest (ages 3-11, co-educational), Juniors (ages 11-13), Middle Years (ages 13-16 for GCSEs), and Sixth Form (ages 16-18 for A Levels). Only the Forest section is co-educational; the main school from age 7 is for boys only.

Type
Merchiston is an independent boys' boarding and day school, the only one of its kind in Scotland. The school is intentionally small, prioritising individual attention. It operates as a charity (SC016580).

Additional learning support
Support for learning is available through a dedicated department. English as an Additional Language support is offered at GBP 12 per lesson for international students who need it.

School day structure
The school week includes Saturday electives, extending learning opportunities beyond the standard Monday-to-Friday timetable. The day includes lessons, sports, and co-curricular activities.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Full boarding is available from the Senior School, with flexi-boarding options (two consecutive nights) available in both Junior and Senior divisions. Occasional boarding at GBP 90 per night is available for day pupils who need it. Boarders receive 24-hour supervision, meals, and laundry services. The Day PLUS option (8am-9pm) provides an extended day without overnight boarding.

Food Options
Meals and snacks are included in all fee categories. Boarders receive breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks as part of their boarding provision.

Governance and Ownership
Merchiston Castle School operates as a registered charity (SC016580). It is governed by a board and is a member of HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference), ISC, SCIS, BSA, and ISBA.
Fees

Annual tuition at Merchiston Castle School ranges from GBP 18,000 to GBP 50,706 for 2026/27.

Termly Tuition Fees (2025-26)

Senior School (IV Form and above)
- Day: GBP 8,000 per term
- Day PLUS (8am-9pm): GBP 12,258 per term
- Flexi-Boarding (2 consecutive nights): GBP 13,993 per term
- Full Boarding: GBP 16,902 per term

Junior School (J5 to III Form)
- Day PLUS: GBP 6,000 per term
- Flexi-Boarding (III Form only): GBP 7,735 per term

Sixth Form Direct Entry
- 5% surcharge on annual boarding or day fees

Sports Academies (annual)
- Tennis Performance Squad: GBP 2,145
- Tennis Development Squad: GBP 1,035
- Golf Performance Squad: GBP 3,750
- Golf Development Squad: GBP 2,040

Other Costs
- Occasional Boarding: GBP 90 per night
- EAL tuition: GBP 12 per lesson

Sibling Discounts
- 5% for the second child, 20% for the third, 40% for the fourth
- 10% discount for serving military families

What's Included
Fees cover tuition, meals and snacks, travel for school matches, and careers counselling. Boarders' fees include 24-hour supervision and laundry.

Payment
Three terms per year, fees due on the first day of term. Monthly payment plans available through School Fee Plan (UK residents only).
Academics

Merchiston Castle School teaches British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels for students aged 7 to 18.

Curriculum
The school follows the English curriculum. Students take GCSEs in the Middle Years (ages 13-16) and A Levels in the Sixth Form (ages 16-18). Saturday electives provide additional learning opportunities beyond the main timetable, allowing students to explore subjects and interests in greater depth.

Student Teacher Ratio
The school describes itself as intentionally small, ensuring every pupil is known, supported, and challenged individually. Specific class sizes were not published.

Exam Results
The school reports a 100% A Level pass rate. Specific grade breakdowns and GCSE results are published annually but were not detailed on the website at the time of review.

Higher Education Progression
Graduates go on to top universities in the UK and internationally, including Ivy League schools in the United States. The school provides careers counselling as part of its provision, included in the fees.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school's intentionally small size means every pupil is known and supported individually. Pastoral care is central to the school's approach, with staff building close relationships with students.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
A dedicated support for learning department works with students who have identified learning needs. The school can accommodate some special educational requirements within its mainstream provision.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
EAL support is available for international students who need help with English language development. Individual lessons are offered at GBP 12 per session. The school has experience supporting students from various language backgrounds.
Parent Experience

History
Merchiston Castle School was founded in 1833 by Charles Chalmers, making it one of Scotland's oldest independent schools. It has been providing boys' education for over 190 years. The school remains the only boys' independent boarding school in Scotland.

Community
The school has a global, outward-looking dimension, welcoming boys from across the UK and internationally. The intentionally small size creates a close-knit community where students are known individually by staff. The campus's 100-acre parkland setting provides a distinctive environment for school life.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The 100-acre campus includes historic buildings set in parkland in south-west Edinburgh. The grounds provide ample space for sport, recreation, and outdoor activities. The school's facilities are also available for hire. Academic buildings, boarding houses, and sports facilities are all within the campus.

Sports Facilities
Merchiston has outstanding sports facilities supporting its No. 1 UK ranking in both tennis and golf. The Tennis Academy and Golf Academy are flagship programmes with performance and development squads. The 100-acre grounds provide extensive playing fields for team sports.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Saturday electives expand learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Sports academies in tennis and golf provide specialist coaching. Co-curricular activities cover a range of interests for boys of all ages.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Saturday electives allow students to explore academic interests beyond the standard curriculum. The school encourages intellectual curiosity and independent thinking.

Community & Service
The school holds UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Silver Award, reflecting its commitment to educating students about rights, responsibility, and community service.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Sport is a defining feature of Merchiston, with the school ranked No. 1 in the UK for both tennis and golf. The Tennis Academy and Golf Academy offer performance and development squads. The 100 acres of parkland provide extensive space for outdoor activity and physical development.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction. English as an Additional Language support is available for international students at GBP 12 per lesson. The school has a global outlook and welcomes students from around the world.
Reputation

Awards
No. 1 UK Tennis Academy — Ranked first by the Independent Schools Golf Association (ISGA) in 2019/20.
No. 1 UK Golf School — Top-ranked school for golf nationally.

Accreditations
HMC — Member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, a leading association of independent school heads.
ISC — Member of the Independent Schools Council.
SCIS — Member of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools.
BSA — Member of the Boarding Schools' Association.
ISBA — Member of the Independent Schools' Bursars Association.
UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Silver Award — Recognition for embedding children's rights across the school community.
Admissions

Admissions
1.
2. Entry points include the Junior School (age 7/11), Middle Years (age 13), and Sixth Form (age 16). A 5% surcharge applies for Sixth Form direct entry.
3. The school assesses candidates based on academic ability and potential.
4. Scholarships and financial assistance programmes are available for qualifying families.
5. International admissions are welcomed, with EAL support available for non-native English speakers.

Scholarships
Scholarships and financial assistance are available. A 10% discount is offered for serving military families. Sibling discounts apply: 5% for the second child, 20% for the third, and 40% for the fourth child.
School Events
The school has not added events
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