Sport has long been part of the fabric of life at Merchiston Castle School. With a proud and successful sporting tradition, pupils can choose from more than 20 sports and activities, with opportunities to participate, compete and thrive at every level. At Merchiston, sport is genuinely for all!
Whether playing for enjoyment, fitness and friendship, or competing at regional, national and international level, pupils are encouraged to challenge themselves, discover new passions and develop a lifelong love of sport. Guided by some of the country’s leading coaches, Merchiston has a strong record of sporting success, with generations of former pupils going on to represent their country at the highest level.
Just as importantly, sport at Merchiston is about far more than results. Through training, competition and teamwork, pupils develop the qualities that will serve them long beyond school: resilience, discipline, leadership, humility and self-belief.
Opportunities extend well beyond timetabled sessions, with evening activities, fixtures, training camps and international tours helping to build friendships and unforgettable memories. For talented athletes seeking a high-performance pathway, our Tennis Academy and Golf Academy combine elite coaching with a tailored academic programme, enabling pupils to pursue sporting excellence alongside academic success.
At the heart of it all are our Solid Castle sporting values of character, commitment and community; shaping not just better athletes, but confident, well-rounded young people.
In the Autumn and Lent Terms, the main school sports are rugby and hockey, with cricket and athletics taking centre stage in the Summer Term. Alongside these major sports, pupils can access a wide range of additional sporting opportunities, including our specialist Tennis Academy and Golf Academy.
Our Other Sports
Badminton offers pupils the opportunity to develop agility, coordination, tactical awareness and competitive confidence within a fast-paced and enjoyable sporting environment.
Available as part of our Senior School activities programme, badminton provides regular weekly training and match play for pupils who want to develop their skills, stay active or compete as part of a school team.
Merchiston regularly enters teams into the Edinburgh Schools Badminton League, giving pupils the opportunity to represent the School in competitive fixtures against other leading schools across the region.
For those who wish to take their game further, pupils are encouraged and supported to compete in both the Edinburgh Schools Badminton Championships and the Scottish Schools Badminton Championships.
Whether playing for enjoyment, fitness or competition, badminton offers another opportunity for pupils to challenge themselves, build confidence and enjoy being active as part of school life.
Basketball provides pupils with the opportunity to develop athleticism, teamwork, tactical awareness and confidence in one of the world’s most dynamic team sports.
In Merchiston Juniors, basketball forms part of the wider activities programme, introducing pupils to the skills, movement and teamwork that underpin the game. In the Senior School, pupils within the sports programme can choose to train and compete as part of the school team.
The senior squad trains three times each week, equivalent to our major sports, benefiting from regular coaching and access to our full-size indoor basketball court within the Sports Hall.
During the Autumn and Lent Terms, the team competes in a busy fixture programme against other leading schools, combining friendly competition with meaningful development opportunities. Merchiston also competes annually in the Scottish Schools Cup, organised by Basketball Scotland, and proudly hosts the Abe Wood Blitz each September.
The Summer Term provides an opportunity for continued development, allowing players to refine their skills, build fitness and prepare for the next competitive season.
Whether discovering the game for the first time or competing at school level, basketball at Merchiston offers pupils another exciting way to stay active, challenge themselves and be part of a team.
Rugby Fives is a fast-paced handball game similar to squash, played in an enclosed court using gloved hands instead of racquets. It is a distinctive and much-loved part of life at Merchiston, offering pupils a dynamic alternative winter sport that develops agility, coordination and tactical awareness.
Merchiston is one of the leading Fives schools in Scotland, with two dedicated courts on site and a strong tradition of participation and competitive success. Pupils from across the age groups take part in regular training and fixtures against schools and clubs throughout the season, alongside entry into the Scottish Schools’ Cups and the UK National Schools Championships.
The programme provides opportunities for both participation and high performance, with pupils progressing from introductory coaching through to representative school teams. Over the years, Merchiston has consistently performed strongly at national level, reflecting the depth of engagement and coaching within the sport.
Recent highlights include national success at both U16 and U18 level, with Merchiston pupils regularly competing at the latter stages of the UK Championships and achieving titles across singles and doubles competitions.
Fives continues to be a key part of the Merchiston sporting offer, valued for its inclusivity, technical challenge and strong team culture.
Cross Country running is open to pupils across the school and forms an important part of the Merchiston sporting programme. It supports the development of fitness, resilience and determination, while encouraging pupils to take pride in personal effort as well as team contribution.
Pupils compete in a number of fixtures throughout the year, including the Scottish Prep Schools Championships, where Merchiston has a proud tradition of strong performances and competitive spirit.
A key feature of the calendar is the Whole School Cross Country event, held annually in the Summer Term. This inclusive competition brings the school community together for three age-group races: Junior, Middle Years and Sixth Form. All pupils are expected to take part, representing their Clan in a spirited event that celebrates participation, commitment and school pride.
Football at Merchiston is delivered through the Senior Sports Programme, with training sessions held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. The programme is designed to develop fitness, technical ability and game understanding, while providing regular opportunities for competitive play.
All pupils who select football take part in structured training sessions that combine skill development with match practice. The sport is supported by experienced coaching and a clear performance pathway, ensuring that players of all abilities are challenged and supported appropriately.
Merchiston fields both a 1st XI and 2nd XI, who compete in regular fixtures against other independent schools throughout the season. The 1st XI also compete in the Scottish Independent Schools Football Association Cup, providing a high level of competitive football within the independent school calendar.
Pupils demonstrating strong performance may be selected for representative honours within the Scottish Independent Schools Football Association (SISFA) squad, with opportunities to compete against Scottish universities and the Independent Schools Football Association (ISFA) select team. In recent years, Merchiston pupils have been selected for this pathway and have gained valuable experience competing at representative level, including participation in high-profile inter-association fixtures.
Football at Merchiston continues to offer a competitive and well-structured programme, combining regular fixtures, player development and opportunities for talented individuals to progress to representative honours.
Golf is an established and highly distinctive part of the sporting programme at Merchiston, supported by excellent local facilities, specialist coaching and a clear performance pathway for pupils of all levels.
Pupils have regular access to high-quality practice facilities throughout the year during activity times, with the opportunity to develop core skills including swing technique, short game and course management. In the Summer Term, golf can be selected as a major activity, with pupils training up to three afternoons per week.
As part of the programme, pupils benefit from access to first-class facilities at our partner club, Swanston Golf Club, where they gain valuable experience playing on a full course environment and developing competitive match play skills.
Merchiston also operates a dedicated Golf Academy, established to provide a structured development and performance pathway for pupils with particular aptitude and ambition in the sport. The Academy reflects the School’s wider commitment to excellence in specialist sports and is designed to support progression from participation through to high-performance golf.
A major recent development is the creation of an indoor golf centre, enhancing year-round training opportunities and allowing pupils to refine technique regardless of weather conditions. This facility further strengthens the School’s ability to support both skill development and elite performance in the sport.
Given Scotland’s status as the Home of Golf, Merchiston pupils benefit from exceptional access to courses, coaching and competitive opportunities, making golf a particularly strong and fast-developing part of the School’s sporting offer. Regular fixtures against other schools provide further match experience, supporting both enjoyment and progression.
Golf at Merchiston continues to grow as both a participation sport and a high-performance pathway, underpinned by strong partnerships, excellent facilities and an expanding Academy structure.
Shooting at Merchiston is delivered through a structured coaching and competitive programme that supports participation, development and performance across all age groups.
The School has a long-established tradition of target rifle shooting and benefits from its own indoor 25m range on campus, providing excellent year-round training facilities. Pupils are introduced to safe, disciplined marksmanship under expert supervision, with opportunities to develop both small-bore and full-bore rifle shooting skills.
The programme caters for a range of abilities, from those new to the sport through to experienced shooters competing at national level. Domestic competitions form an important part of the season, culminating in participation at the prestigious Ashburton Shield competition held at Bisley Camp at the start of the summer holidays.
Alongside target rifle shooting, Merchiston also has a highly successful clay pigeon shooting team. In recent years, the School has enjoyed notable success in both Scottish and UK competitions, including multiple wins in the Scottish School Cup and strong performances at open events.
Training takes place weekly on Thursday afternoons throughout the Winter Term at Cluny Clays, providing pupils with high-quality facilities and regular competitive practice. In the Summer Term, the team travels to the West Midlands Shooting Ground in Market Drayton for the British Schools Clay Pigeon Shooting Championships, competing against schools from across the UK.
The annual Merchistonian v Boys fixture is a highlight of the calendar, combining clay pigeon shooting in the morning with rifle shooting in the afternoon, and bringing together different strands of the programme in a shared competitive event.
Shooting at Merchiston remains a distinctive and well-established part of the sporting offer, combining tradition, technical development and competitive opportunity in a carefully managed and structured environment.
Skiing is offered as part of Merchiston’s wider enrichment and outdoor sport programme, providing pupils with the opportunity to develop confidence, balance and technical ability in a dynamic environment beyond the traditional sports curriculum.
Throughout the year, pupils can take part in weekly sessions at the nearby dry slope facility at Hillend Ski Centre, one of the longest artificial ski slopes in Europe. These regular training sessions allow pupils to build and refine core skiing skills in a structured and progressive way.
In addition to weekly training, occasional trips are organised to snow-sure destinations in Scotland, including locations such as Aviemore, offering pupils the chance to experience skiing in a mountain environment.
A highlight of the programme is the annual ski trip to a European resort over the Easter break, where pupils benefit from expert instruction and the opportunity to develop their skiing in a fully alpine setting alongside their peers.
Skiing at Merchiston combines accessibility, progression and adventure, giving pupils of all abilities the chance to engage with the sport in both local and international contexts.
Squash at Merchiston is offered as part of the Senior School afternoon games programme, providing pupils with the opportunity to develop speed, agility and tactical awareness in a fast-paced and highly competitive environment.
The sport is accessible to pupils of all abilities, with coaching focused on both skill development and match play. It is an excellent option for those looking to improve fitness, coordination and decision-making under pressure.
Merchiston fields competitive squash teams at U14, U16 and U19 level, with fixtures taking place throughout the Autumn and Lent Terms against a range of schools. These competitive opportunities allow pupils to test their skills in regular match play while representing the School across different age groups.
Squash at Merchiston continues to form a valued part of the sporting programme, combining participation, progression and competition within a structured and supportive setting.
Swimming at Merchiston is an established part of school life and remains an important element of both the Physical Education curriculum and the wider sporting programme.
As a core life skill, swimming is taught to all pupils up to Fifth Form through the PE programme. The School places strong emphasis on water confidence and safety, ensuring that by the end of each academic year every pupil is able to swim confidently and competently.
Although the School no longer has an on-site pool, Merchiston maintains strong partnerships with high-quality local facilities, enabling regular access for both curriculum delivery and squad training.
The School’s swimming team trains twice per week and competes in a structured programme of fixtures throughout the year, including the Edinburgh Schools Swimming Championships, the Scottish Schools Swimming Championships, inter-school fixtures, and the traditional School Gala, which remains a key highlight of the calendar.
Merchiston also benefits from a strong link with Warrender Swimming Club, allowing more advanced swimmers to access an elite training environment alongside their school commitments. This partnership provides a clear pathway for talented swimmers to develop further within a competitive club structure.
Swimming at Merchiston combines participation, safety and performance development, ensuring all pupils gain confidence in the water while offering additional opportunities for those competing at a higher level.
Tennis at Merchiston is delivered through a structured coaching and competitive programme that supports participation, development and performance across all age groups.
The School benefits from a purpose-built tennis dome, providing three all-weather courts. This facility ensures year-round training and high-quality coaching, regardless of weather conditions, and underpins both recreational and performance pathways within the sport.
Tennis is offered both as part of the afternoon games programme, where it is enjoyed by pupils of all abilities, and as a performance sport for those selected to represent the School in competitive fixtures.
Merchiston fields teams at U13, U15 and U18 level, competing throughout the year against other schools. In recent years, the School has achieved success at both Scottish and national level, including competitions such as the Aegon Schools Tennis Championships and the Independent Schools’ Championships held at Eton College.
Alongside school fixtures, pupils benefit from indoor winter training and access to local partner tennis facilities, supporting consistent development across the season.
A key strength of the programme is the Merchiston Tennis Academy, which provides a dedicated development and performance pathway for talented players. The Academy combines specialist coaching with a high-performance training environment alongside a tailored academic structure, supporting pupils to pursue excellence in both sport and study.
Tennis at Merchiston continues to thrive as both a participation sport and a high-performance pathway, offering pupils opportunities to develop their game at every level.
