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How to Apply

Open Events

We would love to talk to you about your son and, more importantly, talk with him to work out what makes him tick, discuss where he wants to go next and make sure he has the toolkit to get there. We offer many opportunities for you and your son to visit us throughout the year.

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Merchiston-Castle-School-Admissions-Apply-Boys Boarding-School

Just as every child is different, so no two families follow exactly the same path through the admissions process.

The process is purposefully flexible to give you what you need from it. Some families visit on several occasions over a period of years, others start and complete the process in a matter of weeks.

The main entry points are at age 7, 14 and 16, but you can apply for a place for your son to enter Merchiston at any point between the ages of 7 and 18, providing we have a place.

Admissions Process

Whether your son is a boarder or a day pupil, the admissions process will broadly follow these steps:

Starting Out
Browse Information: website & prospectus
Attending Events
Open mornings/evenings Group taster events Drinks receptions
Personal Visits
(Meet key staff & experience Merchiston life)
Arrange a personal tour Arrange a taster visit Arrange a call to speak with current parents
Decision Made
Fill in a registration form
In the Year Prior to Starting
Sit entrance exams
Merchiston requests report from current school
Offer made

Tennis & Golf Academy

If your son is interested in joining these specialist programmes, please advise the Admissions Team and they will help you arrange a meeting with the Director of Tennis or the Director of Golf.

The Merchiston Journey

We know it’s complicated! This is designed to help you orientate yourself through the nomenclature of year groups and ages. Prefects, age 17-18 are also in all houses.

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)

School News

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Hamilton. Photo by Danny Kaan.

Last Monday a group of sixty boys went to the Edinburgh Festival Theatre to watch Hamilton, the American theatrical phenomenon that is currently in Edinburgh as part of its first ever UK tour.

4th form glaciation trip

The 4th form boys boys travelled to Grey Mair's Tail in the Southern Uplands. It is one of the most spectacular landmarks in Southern Scotland with the waterfall, one of the UK’s highest, plunging 60m down into the Moffat Water Valley.

Golf news

Over the weekend, Harry M (II Form) won the Junior School Golf match play final at Turnberry.

Sport & Activities

There were so many achievements happening this week in sports and activities, that we had to summarise them here. A big congratulations to all the boys below who were celebrated at our recent whole school assembly.