A senior boarding pupil's views...

When asked, not long before leaving primary school, which school I wished to go to next, Merchiston Castle School was not a name that popped straight into my head. In fact, I had almost decided upon which school I wished to go to before even seeing Merchiston. However, I decided to have a 'taster' visit and my first impressions have not disappointed me throughout my time here.

I first came to Merchiston while my father was serving in the military. A stay in one area in the Army tends not to last much more than two to three years, so boarding seemed a good option for me to stop the disruption of school life. To be honest, I did miss home quite a bit when I first came to Merchiston, as do many people. But with the help of my housemaster and good friends I settled in fine.

I have been a member of the Chapel Choir for 4 years and the Close Harmony Group for 3. Some wouldn't think that these activities would offer so many exciting opportunities, but having sung in all sorts of places, from Newcastle to the towns around Lake Garda in Northern Italy I would strongly disagree.

Upon coming to Merchiston I took up quite a few sports, not having had the opportunity to do them before. I now represent the School in both rugby and cricket; I also do badminton as an extra activity while playing football in my spare time. One of the aspects of Merchiston which I like the most, is the genuine friendliness of boys. This is especially appreciated as you share so much time with your friends during the week and at the weekend, whether on outings or just relaxing in the boarding house and school grounds. Hopefully, the rest of my time at Merchiston will be just as rewarding in this respect.

As regards accommodation, I feel the dorms in the boarding house are laid out well and are comfortable, shaped to the preference of the student, with your own bed, cupboard, desk, bedside table, shelves and a light. There are also sockets for electrical items. These I couldn't do without, as I am a great music lover, playing my collection almost non-stop. There are also three other people's areas in close proximity to mine; you can choose who you want to be in an area with at the end of each term.

Another aspect of boarding life at Merchiston I enjoy is the regular trips and outings; with the most recent one being one to Alton Towers. It was brilliant. I had never been to a proper theme park before and enjoyed the day so much, going on all the big rides. Another thing I like is the location of Merchiston, in that you're just a short 10-minute journey into Edinburgh on the bus while still feeling as though you're in the middle of the country in the grounds.

All in all, I would recommend boarding to anyone considering it at the moment: it offers so much, and in so many different ways.