Fees
We understand that school fees involve real sacrifice for many families. That is why we strive constantly to offer excellent value for money.
School fees include all tuition, meals and snacks, travel for School matches and careers counselling. If you are a boarder they also include 24-hour supervision and care and all laundry, excluding dry-cleaning.
Fees Summary 2024-2025
| Age(s) of Pupil | Boarding Fee per Term | Day Fee per Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IV Form and above | 13 – 18 | £14,085 | £10,215 |
| II and III Form | 11 – 12 | £10,080 | £6,795 |
| J4 to I Form | 7 – 10 | n/a | £6,000 |
View the Merchiston School Structure.
There is a premium for direct entry into the VI Form, equivalent to 5% of the Senior School Boarding fee for each of the two VI Form years. A 5% premium is also applied to short-term enrolment of 1 year or less.
A UKVI Compliance Management Fee of £350 will be charged to international students (where applicable).
| Sports Academies | In addition to School Fees |
|---|---|
| Tennis Academy Elite Squad | £1,740 per annum |
| Tennis Academy Development Squad | £840 per annum |
| Golf Academy Elite Squad | £3,030 per annum |
| Golf Academy Development Squad | £1,650 per annum |
| Occasional Boarding | £65 per night |
| English as an Additional Language | £11 per lesson |
Extra Items
Once your son has started, his school fee account may also include charges for ‘Extra Items’. Most charges for ‘Extra Items’ are added to fee notes in the term following the activity for which the charge is raised.
Fee concessions
You may qualify for a fee concession:
- if you have more than one son attending Merchiston at the same time (5% for your second child, 20% for your third child and 40% for your fourth child).
- Merchiston operates a joint fee scheme with Bridge of Earn and St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh.
- Boarding children of serving Service Personnel (10%)
Please note that only one concession is available per pupil and does not extend to Additional or Extra Charges.
Financial Assistance
Merchiston offers financial assistance by means of a Bursary Fund designed to enable your son to have access to a Merchiston education, irrespective of his financial circumstances. Payment can be by Cheque or Bank Transfer and payment is due on or before the first day of the new term. More information about support with fees can be found here.
| Term | Fees Issued |
|---|---|
| Autumn Term | July |
| Spring Term | December |
| Summer Term | March |
The first term’s fees will be payable by the first day of term, and an invoice is sent out in June or July. Unless agreed otherwise by the School, fees are payable termly and must be paid by the first day of term. There are 3 terms in each year. Other arrangements for fee payment may be available on application to the Bursar (Finance), Mrs Pippa Axon.
If, after your son joins the School, fees are outstanding, the School reserves the right to refuse to allow him to continue attending the School (or may withhold references) whilst fees remain unpaid. The School reserves the right to charge interest on sums which are outstanding (charged at 1.5% above Bank of England base rate).
It is a requirement of entry to Merchiston that your financial obligations to other schools must be fulfilled before your son can join Merchiston.
Additional information on our fees can be found on this document.
Culture – Merchiston breeds well mannered, considerate yet determined young gentlemen that stand out in terms of attitude and behavior from other equally priced and storied schools. There is a great story from a shop in town, near another private school, when a Merchiston boy in casual clothes held open the door for an old lady and she said “Thank you - I guess you are from Merchiston then”.
Current Parent Sixth Form
