Merchiston provides education from age 3 through to 18. Our co-educational Forest Nursery and Junior School welcomes boys and girls from the early years through primary education, while boys can continue seamlessly into Merchiston’s Senior School and Sixth Form, benefiting from a clear and well-supported educational journey through to university and beyond.
Merchiston’s 100-acre campus is located in the South of Edinburgh, 15 mins from Edinburgh Airport. Our postal address is 294 Colinton Rd. EH13 0PU.
We offer both day and boarding options. Many pupils choose to board, but day pupils are fully integrated into all aspects of school life. Our families can currently choose from the following options: Day, DayPlus, Flexi-Boarding and Full- Boarding.
We operate a rolling admission policy; we understand each family has a unique set of circumstances so we are not prescriptive on set entry points.
You can start by submitting an enquiry through our website or by contacting the Admissions team directly at admissions@merchiston.co.uk
The type of assessment is dependent on the age and stage of each candidate. Where appropriate, we will ask students to undertake a virtual CAT4 assessment and/or provide previous exam results. We are firm believers that test results do not represent an individual as a whole and will also look holistically at each candidate.
Yes, visits are strongly encouraged. We host a variety of Open Events throughout the year and we encourage families to book private tours and Taster Days with us before making their final decision.
In line with our individual ethos, we offer dual curriculum pathways. Our students can access both the Scottish (Nat 5, Highers) and English (GCSE, A-Level) curriculum depending on subjects and personal circumstances. We also offer BTEC in the Sixth Form. To find out more about our curriculum, please visit our Academic page.
We strongly encourage students to take full advantage of Half Term and holiday breaks. In a busy boarding school environment downtime and socialising is very important and we advise families to make arrangements for pupils to spend time with friends, family and guardians during the longer breaks. We fully understand that it can be challenging for international students to travel home for short breaks such as Weekend Leave; for those unable to travel home during these times, arrangements can be made and should be discussed directly with the Houseparents.
Pupils can take part in a wide range of activities, including:
- Sport
- Music and drama
- Clubs and societies
Find out more about our Co-Curricular activities.
Our academic year is divided into three Terms, known as Autumn Term, Lent Term and Summer Term.
Yes, we offer a range of scholarships and means-tested bursaries. Please contact Admissions at admissions@merchiston.co.uk for further information on eligibility and application deadlines.
