Headmaster's Headlines

Thoughts: In this week's Headmaster's Assembly, I reminded the School how fortunate we are. There was a slight frost all over the campus, and we were surrounded by a real sense of calmness, stillness, and clear, radiant blue skies.  Metaphorically speaking, we are looked over by the Pentlands Hills as well as Edinburgh Castle and at the back of the School (in particular Laidlaw), we have quite stunning views over East Fife, as well as the two bridges! I highlighted to the School the art outside Memorial Hall by Hugh entitled Edinburgh Lights 1 and Edinburgh Lights 2 (Oil on Canvas) and pointed out to the School that I wished them to look very carefully at the art displayed in the Dining Hall, which was created by members of the School. I also started the Assembly by congratulating the School on an award that we recently gained from www.best-schools.co.uk for our excellence in Academic Achievement in A Level results in Scotland, A*, A and B grades obtained, and the number of pupils with exam success. This has led to Merchiston being called The Top Scottish Independent Boys' Senior School for 2011.

Congratulations: The quote Failure: the Indispensable Lesson is a strange paradox. I am fascinated to see that a girls' school down south has nominated this week as 'the week of failure' in terms of its curriculum.  Whilst I wish every single boy to aspire to achieve the best that he can possibly achieve (especially whilst growing up at school), I also wish every boy to know what it is like to come second and 'to fail', as it teaches many how to bounce back and show resilire. Of course, the latter development must happen in an extremely supportive environment of both boys and staff. Our Able and Very Able Policy says the following: "We challenge our Able pupils to the very outermost limits of their potential; indeed, to the point of failure." Accordingly, in the Assembly I applauded all of the candidates who applied to Oxford and Cambridge this year, 17 in total. Those who were unsuccessful have pushed themselves to the point of coming second, and indeed 'failure'. It is my view that some of these boys may reapply; indeed, Merchiston has a strong tradition of success with seventh term reapplications. It is also my view that any of the leading universities in the United Kingdom will be extremely fortunate to have any of these boys in their midst. So, I congratulated the following for pushing themselves to the point of coming second: Tim and Angus (Medicine); David (Veterinary Science); Freddie; Peter (Architecture); Bowen; Jamie; Terry; Ryan (Engineering); Edward (History); Rory (English); Santi (Land Economy); and Desmond (Astrophysics). I also congratulated Lawrence on his offer to read Natural Sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; Duncan on his offer to read Natural Sciences as Christ College, Cambridge; Rupert on his offer to read Engineering at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Rory on his offer to read Engineering at Pembroke College, Cambridge. It is absolutely right in any school, but particularly a boys' school, that the boys should be aspiring to success in all aspects of their life. Therefore it was also a great pleasure and privilege to congratulate on the stageJohn, Dan and Dougal who have been selected for the Edinburgh U16 Rugby Squad.

Highlights: It is extremely difficult to pluck highlights out of the air from an action packed week at Merchiston. For example, last week our Lower Sixth Geographers enjoyed a field trip at Morecambe Bay; the Careers Café on Chartered Surveying was a great success and it was a pleasure to welcome to the School Ruth Davidson, the Leader of the Scottish Conservatives. In this term, we have already had a visit from the SNP, and in the next academic year we hope to have a visit from Alistair Darling. I am delighted that the J4/5 boys enjoyed their visit to the Glasgow Science Centre and let us not forget that all of the boys in Shell/Fifth Form have been practising how to do well in exams. We also have visitors with us from Toulouse. My highlights, then, are as follows:

First, I wished to highlight our track record of Outdoor Education: one of the great joys of being a Scottish school is that the wonderful terrain of Scotland is available to the boys and the Staff. However, we also need members of staff to bring their passions with them to Merchiston; Mr George, the Head of Outdoor Education certainly does this. I really hope that readers of Headmaster's Headlines will enjoy seeing photos  (in the media gallery) of two back-to-back trips, the first to Buachaille Etive Mor and the second, (an ice climbing course) to Lochaber. As I say to the boys, the Number 10 bus runs alongside the School's boundary on Colinton Road. One of my favourite sayings is, "Jump on the Number 10 bus of the Merchiston opportunities available to you!"

My second highlight is an important one, simply to say thank you. I thanked the vast number of boys who have helped us in recent weeks showing interviewees around the School. We also convened student panels who asked the best and most relevant questions, specifically, "Why do you wish to come and work with us?" It is very important to us that all interviewees meet as many boys as possible on their visit to Merchiston.

I also thanked the huge array of boys who helped us at last week's Merchiston Journey. Even the boys who helped by opening the doors at the front of School and hanging up coats contributed as such small gestures matter as signals of courtesy and civility. Our Upper Sixth Formers were outstanding in their presentations and equally, our musicians contributed hugely both before the presentations and during the meal afterwards. I found myself thinking yet again what a great pleasure and a privilege it is to be the Headmaster of Merchiston and to be amidst such inspiring young people, members of staff, parents, and indeed prospective parents.

My third highlight is the Annual Scholars' Dinner which was held for the fourteenth time last week at Merchiston. It is on this occasion that the Scholars are able to concentrate on thinking about being Scholars! There is always a visiting speaker, and this year we were fortunate enough to welcome Mr George Chamier, Historian and Author; his speech will be printed in the next edition of the Merchistonian. However, I also particularly liked and respected the tone of Dr Mortimer's introduction to the event. So much so, in fact, that I thought that it was absolutely right for the whole School to hear it at this week's Assembly, for in my view, many boys need to learn to like learning more. I was certainly like that as a boy! This is where we start from at Merchiston, but through our approach to learning and teaching, we hope to 'switch on the light bulbs' in the head of every boy for surely this is the beginning of scholarship? I requested that the Captain of School read out Dr Mortimer's words, and I can assure you that they are well worth a read.

Finally in this Headmaster's Assembly, I requested a member of staff, namely Mr Lucas to speak about the quote given to me by somebody outside Merchiston last week. I gave this quote to the School last week and asked members of staff to try and help boys understand it further. The quote was as follows: "We are living in a post-modernist world of relativism; conversely we all need a set of coherent values; Merchiston endeavours to provide a set of coherent values." What is so wonderful about being the Headmaster of Merchiston is that I am surrounded by so many capable and intelligent folk. I really do recommend that you take a look at Mr Lucas's words through this link.