Chalmers East Housemaster's Page

The focus in Chalmers East is on two key aspects: rights and responsibilities. Boys get more privileges as they move up the School. However, there is emphasis on the increased expectations that boys will take responsibilities for their behaviour and actions. The horizontal house system means that boys in Chalmers East can be supported and guided together through the difficult challenges that they can face as maturing adolescents.

The House has been continually upgraded over the past 5 years with new showers on all floors, repainting and new curtains in all rooms and a new Quiet Room being created out of the Changing Room. Boys appreciate the environment in which they live and work and care is taken to maintain and improve Chalmers East every year.

Chalmers East is a very busy place in which to live and work but it is also a happy and rewarding environment. Music is integral to Merchiston life and it is interesting that there is no drop off in the numbers of boys this age in the Choir. Indeed nearly a third of Chalmers East is in the Choral Society while the Pipe Band, Orchestra and Jazz Band are all popular. There are opportunities to be involved in Drama in the Middle School play with St George's. Chalmers East goes as a House on a Christmas Theatre outing every year. We went to Mamma Mia! this year and previously we have enjoyed seeing Miss Saigon, Riverdance and Grease. A highlight is the House trip to Alton Towers in May. We manage to make the trip in a day, which entails an early start and a very tired House by the end of the day, but it is always a great success.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is popular with preparation for the Silver Award taking place throughout the year. CCF is compulsory and the two CCF camps always prove to be enjoyable. There are also opportunities to travel abroad and Chalmers East boys can go on exchanges to schools in Australia, Canada and South Africa while a trip to Peru is being organized for 2006.

This is the last full year of age group sport. The House has three strong rugby teams, two cricket elevens and boys represent the School in all of the other sports on offer. The under 15 A XI take part in a Cricket Festival in the last week of the summer term with Glenalmond, Sedbergh and King's Bruton School.

The Parents' Guide to Chalmers East contains detail about daily life in the House along with the Aims and Code of Conduct. New boys can enter Merchiston at Chalmers East to start GCSE course and the horizontal house system helps them integrate quickly.