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Outreach / Community benefit

School News

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Movember 2023

Help us fundraise for Men's Health in the month on November!

two young boys, former pupils at Merchiston Castle School at their graduation
Running for MND Research

Former Pupils Finlay and Thomas undertake a Half Marathon to raise funds for MND research. 

Merchiston Castle School volunteer outreach

At Merchiston we constantly strive for the highest standards in the independent schools’ sector. Networking with other major schools, peer group studies of the evaluation of quality, and performance improvement are just some of the methods used to achieve our goal.

As part of our ongoing endeavours to widen public access to Merchiston, we also co-operate and link with local schools and organisations. We aim to optimise the use of our cultural, sporting and other facilities for local public benefit and to awaken in your son an awareness of the social context of the all-round education he receives. Although the charity functions primarily as a school, it is involved in many other activities and community initiatives which are of public benefit: 

  • Koinonia (Teamwork with the Community) by pupils and staff, locally and further afield
  • Provision of staff expertise to other educational agencies and schools
  • Provision of facilities on a non-profit basis for community use.

We try to live by the principles of social inclusion, social mobility and the fairness agenda, which is why we offer means tested assistance to a significant number of pupils.

Infogrpahics Slider

£1.7 Million

UK maintained sector saving by the education of 297 Merchiston boys

29%

132 Pupils Receive Means-Tested Access

£11,547

Total Charitable Collections

6

Pupils receive Bursaries or Scholarships from External Trusts/Charities

£942,000

Means-tested financial assistance

12

Pupils volunteer in a local care home and food bank

16

Pupils volunteer as weekly mentors at two local primary schools

27

External exam candidates supported

48

pupils as weekly mentors, rugby coaches & classroom assistants

10

Free Friday afternoon activity club spaces for local primary children.

7336

Child visits free of charge

Community Facilities
Free Facility use for local Primary Schools
Free Tuition for Primary Schools - swimming, music
Annual Maths Fun Day for local Primary Schools
Annual Primary Schools' Science & Technology Day
Annual Primary Schools' Evening of Music
Free Facility use for local organisations

 

We are so grateful for your continued belief in and support of our work. Since 2010 you have raised a staggering £10,000 for Place2Be - the equivalent of 1,428 Place2Talk sessions for children who so desperately need a safe place to address their worries and anxieties. Thank you for helping us make a profound difference to vulnerable children. We are so grateful for your continued support.

Benita Refson, OBEPresident of Place2Be

I am writing to thank you and your colleagues for all your work in organising the Maths Fun Day last week. It was, as always, a really positive experience for the youngsters. Our team members very much enjoyed the tackling the maths problems and liked the different formats. They also appreciated the good humour of the day, as well as the catering (which never fails to impress!).

Retired Deputy Head Teacher of Pentland Primary

Thank you for coming to our school. My favourite experiment was making the periscopes; I have been spying on both of my brothers with it. I found it really cool that the thing that made sounds by bumping up and down really fast. I also enjoyed learning that different colours of light don’t make the same colours mixed as paint does.

Pupil P5Pentcaitland Primary

Thank you for the hospitality offered to Firrhill staff and pupils last Wednesday. They all enjoyed the visit and appreciated the attention to detail that had gone in to planning the event which had been organised in cooperation with the Scottish Book Trust. In particular, our staff appreciated the care and attention given to one of our pupils who had a nose bleed. They also liked the welcome with an offer of tea or coffee, the juice and biscuits provided for pupils and the well-organised way the pupils were invited through a group at a time to meet Joseph and have books signed.

HeadteacherFirhill High School