Looking for a top boys only boarding schools in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK? You have found one! Merchiston is located on the 100 acres of beautiful parkland, just four miles away from the centre of Edinburgh and just 20 minutes from Edinburgh’s international airport, which has over 100 direct routes. We are located just an hour’s flight from London, Edinburgh’s rich culture offers some ad-ditional possibilities for boys’ development, and it does not matter if they are visiting an art gallery or attending an international rugby fixture. Because we are focused on basic and traditional human values, this top boys boarding school encourages its students to be independent and try to rely on one’s own abilities, as well as show respect and tolerance towards each member of school community. The purpose of this top boarding school for boys is to help each and every boy to make the most of his potential and leave Merchiston ready for the realities of the contemporary world. This boys boarding school UK has strong and effective belief to develop each boy’s personal achievement and support its students far beyond just their expected results at GCSE and A-level. This best boarding school for boys was named the Top Scottish School for A-levels in 2011 and 2012 (The Herald and The Sunday Times Parent Power) and has a really strong and undoubted reputation for providing a first-rate all-round education.
Girls | Boys | Total | |
---|---|---|---|
Boarding School: | 0 | 286 | 286 |
Day School: | 0 | 162 | 162 |
Residences of this top UK boarding school are comfortable and spacious, and here boys have a chance to spend time together and socialise with each other. Boys can have a possibility to share rooms in twos of have their own room from age 15.
Weekends and evenings are busy times for students of this top UK boarding school for boys. Saturday is a normal day of school with lessons taught as during the normal week. After lunch, most of the boys will have sports classes, either at home or away. During the evenings our boys will often have an activity such as a pizza or DVD evening, or reel clubs and ceilidhs with local girls' schools.
On Sundays, a Service is held either in the morning or in the evening, and activities are planned during the rest of the day. The choice is quite impressive, which include: , cinema trips, go-karting, swimming pool/leisure centre visits, ice skating, international rugby matches at Murrayfield, museum visits, visits to places of interest (according to age), football and other games. Older students may choose to have a so called 'leave-out' or to visit Edinburgh to meet with their friends or family.
A key characteristic of this top UK boarding school for boys is big and diverse choice of co-curricular activities. Some of these take place during weekday afternoons, others are planned and set for the evenings or during the weekends. The most popular is rugby however, there are plenty of other possibilities on offer, both sporting and non-sporting. Boys at this top UK boarding school have a chance to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, the CCF, as well as rowing, golf, squash, fives, football, cricket and athletics - to name just a few of them.
Additionally to the usual subjects which students need to attend, this top UK boarding school also focuses on additional skills. For example all pupils gain a basic understanding of ICT, a practical knowledge of number foreign languages, and skills in communication, both orally and in a written form. These are essential ‘everyday’ skills which all boys should be familiar with.
Classes are small and the overall teacher/pupil ratio is 1:9. Consequently, individual focus is aimed for every student both inside and outside the classroom. In the GCSE year and in the Sixth Form Boarding School, there are usually additional classes aimed to support our students.
Merchiston Juniors 8-13
What Merchiston only boys boarding school can offer your child.
This top UK boarding school can give boys the perfect start to their education from 8 years old. We provide a different approach from other boys’ boarding schools in that we make easier the progression from Junior to Senior education, which avoids the steep 'step-up' boys can experience when moving on from Primary education. This best boys only boarding school does this simply by presenting Juniors to Senior School teachers and teaching methods from age 10, and during their two final years they are given all the resources and advantageous of Senior School. We 'graduate' the critical moment in every boys life between 10 and 13, as to give our boys a possibility to move up to the Senior School with self-confidence and additional experiences. It's the 'best of both worlds': the advantages of a vibrant Junior School, with the facilities of one of the UK's leading Senior Schools.
Some parents also think that starting their sons at Merchiston at 8,9 or 10 ensures that they avoid the stress of the Common Entrance exams - or often difficult and stressful he decision process concerning a choice of senior school.
Boys at Juniors Boarding School can board or be day-students. Safe and sound Pringle House, which is the borders’ residence, is a perfect and simple way to present boys with livining and spending time together.
Senior School 13+
Senior School educates boys from the age of 13. At this top boys only boarding school we refer to the first three years of Senior School, from 13 through to 16 and GCSEs, as the 'Middle Years'. They then enter the Sixth Form Boarding School.
New students start in Fourth Form, when they join Chalmers West House. They meet up with those boys who have moved up from our Juniors and form a year community of around 60 boys. In the following year, which we refer to as 'Shell', the students start to focus on their GCSEs. The next year, Fifth Form, is in fact a crucial GCSE year, and this is the time when all the preparation and hard work is really appreciated by our students.
This Top Boys only Boarding School’s House System, where boys advance in a cohort of their year group, allows friendships and allows to make strong relations between each other. Boys grow up really fast between 13 and 16, and our specialise knowledge of teaching male students in a single sex environment gives the Merchiston boy, in my opinion, the best possible start to go on smoothly into the Sixth Form.
Sixth Form Boarding School 16+
The Sixth Form Boarding School takes boys through their A levels and, in most of the times, on to university or college. Most parents by sending their children to this top boys only boarding school for this two-year period gives them a chance to make the most of the crucial period in their lives. In the 'Lower Sixth' boys generally sit their AS level exams, going on to their A2 level exams in Upper Sixth.
Boarders can resident in our Sixth Form House, Laidlaw, which was opened in 2009. The day students have their own house at school, namely Evans House. All boys are given a great deal of combination between responsibility and freedom. Many will become prefects, and will have to obtain duties and responsibilities in order to help to run our School. They are no longer wearing school uniforms but dark suits which symbolise their higher independence.
Boys starting with us in Lower Sixth will join a year group composed of around 80 students. Some have been here from age 8 or 9, while others joined later in time. Whilst this group has bonded into a very vibrant community, we are always glad to welcome new arrivals, and to help them enrich our boarding school community. We welcome boys from each and every corner of the world: lately we had 24 different nationalities. Indeed our Sixth Form Boarding School, and the wonderful new Laidlaw House, has become so popular that we have more candidates than places in our offer.
Some boys find that our Sixth Form Boarding school gives them that extra power and 'edge' to get the A level results they really want. For others (international students) it may be a chance to master their English language abilities. And for some it is Merchiston's sporting excellence in rugby, cricket or tennis which attracts them.
Rugby is the crucial type of sport in the Autumn and Lent Terms, Cricket and Athletics are played in the Lent and Summer Terms. We offer training and competition in over 20 sports.
Music. Music plays avery crucial role in the life of the School. There are tutors in all keyboard and orchestral instruments; nowadays about fifty per cent of the School learns to play a musical instrument, and to sing in two choirs. There is also a School orchestra, a close harmony group, a jazz band and two pipe bands. The choir and instrumentalists frequently go on tour, e.g. to the USA, the Far East, and Europe.
Drama. There is at least one major play production to be presented a term jointly staged together with our “friendly school(s)”, as well as frequent House plays or drama workshop productions in a modernly-equipped, purpose-built theatre.
Art, Craft, Design and Technology, and Ceramics. The art and design centre served our students in both regular study time, as well as in their free time for painting, pottery, metalwork, woodwork and design work. Courses in Computing and Electronics are also available in such a mode.
Rugby is the main sport in the Autumn and Lent Terms, Cricket and Athletics are played in the Lent and Summer Terms. We over training and competition in over 20 sports.
This top UK boarding school offers a large indoor heated swimming pool and a sports hall, there are also good facilities for other types of sports such as tennis, football, squash, fives, shooting, sailing, skiing, basketball, fencing, golf, badminton, hockey and curling. Rugby is the crucial type of sport in the Autumn and Lent Terms, Cricket and Athletics are played in the Lent and Summer Terms. This top boarding school for boys offers training and competition in over 20 sports.
Music plays a very crucial role in the life of this top 10 boarding schools UK. There are tutors in all keyboard and orchestral instruments; nowadays about fifty per cent of the School learns to play a musical instrument, and to sing in two choirs. There is also a School orchestra, a close harmony group, a jazz band and two pipe bands. The choir and instrumentalists frequently go on tour, e.g. to the USA, the Far East, and Europe.
There is at least one major play production to be presented a term jointly staged together with our “friendly school(s)”, as well as frequent House plays or drama workshop productions in a modernly-equipped, purpose-built theatre.
The art and design centre served our students in both regular study time, as well as in their free time for painting, pottery, metalwork, woodwork and design work. Courses in Computing and Electronics are also available in such a mode.
Boarding School in Scotland
Merchiston Castle School is situated in Colinton on the south-west side of Edinburgh.
If you are travelling to the School:
From the North: After crossing the Forth Road Bridge, follow signs to M8 and Glasgow. Take slip road marked Edinburgh and City Bypass (A720) . Follow Bypass southbound sign. Exit at Dreghorn Junction (Colinton exit). Follow signs for Redford Barracks: Merchiston is opposite these, on the north side of Colinton Road.
From the South: A1, A7 and A68 all lead to the City Bypass. Follow signs for the Forth Road Bridge and Airport. Leave Bypass at Dreghorn Junction (Colinton exit). Follow signs for Redford Barracks: Merchiston is opposite these, on the north side of Colinton Road.
From the West: From the M8, do not follow route to Forth Road Bridge, but continue on to the City Bypass, following southbound signs. Exit at Dreghorn Junction, (Colinton exit). Follow signs for Redford Barracks: Merchiston is opposite these, on the north side of Colinton Road.
Take a taxi from Waverley Station: travel time approx 20 mins.
Take a taxi from Edinburgh Airport: travel time approx 15 mins.
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