 I trust you enjoy reading the academic leaflet. You will already have received our interim public examination results 2006/07 but this leaflet is the definitive version. We continue to concentrate on the academic programme and performance of each and every boy, leading to his achieving the best possible results; in this regard, we ask ourselves whether each pupil has performed worse than expected, as expected, or better than expected – naturally, we are working towards the last! Much of the process this term has involved starting all over again, for this is the cyclical nature of school academic years. The UCAS procedure is well underway for the present Upper Sixth (and some leavers); we have had an ALIS (A Level Information System) presentation to the Lower Sixth boys and parents; the J4 & J5 and Upper Sixth Parents’ Meetings have taken place; and the First to Fourth Forms have sat internal examinations. In all this we have focused on simply encouraging boys to learn to like learning more – an important goal, that one!
Let us not forget too the Enlightened Curriculum, which is all about enrichment and learning far beyond examination curricula. There were so many special events and the full list is in the calendar.  However, a few examples were the Bag a Book Day, the talk by a Holocaust survivor, the exciting Sixth Form History trip to Russia with girls from St Margaret’s, the Prestige Physics Lecture by Dr Chris Hooley of the School of Physics and Astronomy at St Andrews University on ‘More is Different’, the Nicola Morgan book launch, and the Upper Sixth Form residential reading trip to the University of Glasgow. Personal and Social Education (PSE) for all boys in the School also plays an important role in this broader education. Much has been written in the national press about teaching concepts like ‘happiness’ but we prefer to focus on emotional intelligence and emotional literacy to try to ensure that our pupils are ready for the challenges of growing up, and living as productive and fulfilled adults beyond School.
Outdoor education is also a vital element in Merchiston’s philosophy and I am delighted that weekend activities have included the Blakerston Camp, the Loaningdale Camp, the Pringle night hike and Duke of Edinburgh associated trips. |
