A Top Private Boys Boarding School

The benefits of modern boarding are well documented. Gone are the inhospitable days of yesteryear. Your son will be part of a warm, caring and busy community.

By definition of living in this community, your son will have a diverse social life and form strong bonds with his friends. Many of his friends will be international, giving him the cultural awareness so critical in our global world.

As well as your son’s social skills, you will notice greater levels of confidence. And a genuine respect for others that comes from co-existing together. Then there’s the resilience, independence and self-motivation boarding brings, and the opportunities for taking on responsibility for aspects of managing the House in the Sixth Form; skills as desirable in the workplace as they are useful at school.

A key benefit of boarding is a longer day. Activities can run into the evening: indoor football, debating, trips to the theatre. It’s one of the reasons that boarders are able to pursue such a wide range of interests. If your son is someone who buys into this he can still get the sleep he needs without spending time and energy commuting. 

If your work takes you away or keeps you late, there is much comfort in the constancy and additional role models boarding provides. Not to mention the welcome reduction in demands on the parental taxi service.

We know we can never compete with home, but we do our very best to ensure that Merchiston is a home away from home for your son when he’s boarding. 

Just as at home, your son will change into his casual clothes at the end of the school day. His House Parents will continue to set boundaries and expectations of behaviour in the evenings but the atmosphere will be very different.

Once your son has finished his homework, the emphasis will be on relaxation. Each house has a kitchen for making that bedtime hot chocolate or chatting over a snack with house staff; just like he would with you at home. Unlike at home, he’ll be surrounded by his friends, making spending time with them outside of school hours much easier. It’s no wonder the camaraderie is so strong and friendships tend to last for life.

He can be as busy and engaged as he wants to be; there are plenty of structured activities, events and programs to choose from. The focus is always on age-appropriate activities and using the extensive school site for evening games; fresh air invariably trumps screentime.

It’s important that your son brings whatever home comforts make him feel at ease: his own bed covers, posters, photos, the all-important cuddly toy that has been with him for years….after all this is his home away from home.