Entrance Examinations
Once you have registered your son, the next formal stage is assessment.
This usually happens in the year before he joins us. Most children join us at the start of the academic year in September, but your son might be able to start at another time if a place becomes available.
The Merchiston Journey
Ages 7-12+
Your son will sit online assessments in Maths and English, a writing exercise, and an online screening test. He will have an informal interview with Junior school and be asked to provide a report from his current school.
Ages 13+ and 14+
If your son is joining from a Prep School he will sit the Common Entrance Papers.
Otherwise, he will sit written papers in Maths and English, Non Verbal Reasoning and online screening tests. He will have an informal interview with staff and be asked to provide a recent school report.
Age 15+
In the very rare instance that your son is moving schools mid GCSEs, he will be asked to sit written papers in Maths, English and Science. We will also interview him and consider his recent school report.
Age 16+
If your son is taking GCSE, or equivalent exams, we will consider him based on his predicted and actual exam results and an interview with the Headmaster. If he is joining us from a different exam system, he will be asked to sit papers in the subjects he wishes to study at A Level as well as his interview. Whichever route he takes, your son will also need to provide a school report.
| Junior Years | ||
|---|---|---|
| J4 - Pringle | ||
| Primary 4 (Scotland) | Age 7 + 8 | Year 4 (England) |
| J5 - Pringle | ||
| Primary 5 (Scotland) | Age 9 | Year 5 (England) |
| First Form - Pringle | ||
| Primary 6 (Scotland) | Age 10 | Year 6 (England) |
| Second Form - Pringle | ||
| Primary 7 (Scotland) | Age 11 | Year 7 (England) |
| Third Form - Pringle | ||
| S1 (Scotland) | Age 12 | Year 8 (England) |
| Middle Years (Senior School) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fourth Form - Chalmers (Day boys Rogerson) | ||
| S2 (Scotland) | Age 13 | Year 9 (England) |
| Shell - Chalmers (Day boys Rogerson) | ||
| S3 (Scotland) | Age 14 | Year 10 (England) |
| Fifth Form - Chalmers (Day boys Rogerson) | ||
| S4 (Scotland) | Age 15 | Year 11 (England) |
| Sixth Form (Senior School) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Lower Sixth Form - Laidlaw | ||
| S5 (Scotland) | Age 16 | Year 12 (England) |
| Upper Sixth Form - Laidlaw | ||
| S6 (Scotland) | Age 17 | Year 13 (England) |
