The Chemistry Department's primary role is to stimulate and encourage our boys' natural interest in science. The subject is extremely experimental from the very start: younger students quickly gain experience with the techniques and safety aspects involved, while older students 'learn by doing' with practical work supporting and reinforcing the theory. Staff are knowledgeable, experienced and enthusiastic and work hard at establishing a good relationship with the pupils and an effective learning environment.

Public exam results are consistently excellent and, while the department realises that they are not the "be all and the end all", quality teaching and careful preparation allows boys to fulfil their potential. Both the IGCSE and A-level courses are rigorous and genuinely academic and provide the students with real, useful qualifications for the future.

Keith Pettigrew BSc, PhD: Head of Department
Dr Pettigrew takes the D2 rugby team and is a tutor in Rogerson

Dale Cartwright BSc, PhD:  Pringle Director of Studies
Dr Cartwright takes the 1st XI football and is a tutor in Pringle.

David Yeaman MChem 
Mr Yeaman is in charge of badminton and golf. He tutors in Pringle.

Calver Main MSc, PhD
Dr Main joined Merchiston in 2011 having worked in industry and as a research scientist. He taught previously in Newton Mearns.

There are three Chemistry labs which have been recently refurbished to a very high standard. Each has a data projector and a fume cupboard. The technician's room is extremely well stocked and also has a fume cupboard allowing a lot of higher level practical work to be done. The major new development in Science is the Junior Science lab on the bottom floor of the building. This has an adjacent prep room and is fully stocked for practical work up to GCSE level.

I & II Forms: The Science syllabus for I and II Forms covers the needs of our new intake and is in line with the stipulations of the Curriculum for Excellence and the English National Curriculum.

Chemistry as a distinct subject is taught from III Form upwards.

III Form: This is an introduction to the subject and pupils will meet the fundamental ideas of elements, compounds and the Periodic Table. Important practical techniques are covered and there is plenty of opportunity for experimental work.

IV Form: this year covers many of the key topics of the iGCSE as preparation for the course. It also follows the National Curriculum. There is heavy emphasis on practical work and students will meet many of the subject's key ideas throughout the year.

Shell, V Form & VI Form: The Department follows the new Edexcel IGCSE syllabus in Shell and Fifth Form and offers the Double Award option for those who do not wish to do all three single sciences. This is an extremely competitive qualification and provides unrivalled preparation for the Edexcel A level course which had its first exam cohort in June 2010. This achieved the best ever A level results in Chemistry at Merchiston.

Science Club runs as an activity for junior boys and students in the senior school are used as helpers. The Department enters boys for the RSC Olympiad in the UVI Form, and has achieved a number of Gold and Silver awards in recent years. In the LVI, boys sit a Cambridge challenge exam and take part in a Chemistry Masterclass at St Andrew's University. A team is also entered for the annual South East Scotland Top of the Bench competition and has won it five times in the last nine years.