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Monday 9am - 4pm Tuesday 9am - 4pm Wednesday 9am - 4pm Thursday 9am - 4pm Friday 9am - 1pm

Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

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Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh

Scotland's only independent boarding & day school for boys aged 7-18, in the heart of Edinburgh. Inspiring excellence in learning, leadership and life.

“A balanced curriculum, excellent pastoral care and a high A level pass rate make Merchiston one of the Uk’s leading independent schools.” ukboardingschools.com

The Merchiston Difference
What makes Merchiston different? It is a combination of things: our size, a relentless focus on the individual, and the fact that we really understand boys and how to get the very best out of them. It is a potent trio. It is what enables us to know your son really well and to understand what makes him tick. It is why we can support him in a way that is material and motivating to him. It is the reason your son will strive for personal excellence and want to be the best version of himself. It is the secret of his, and our, success.

15/09/2026

Introducing our Winter Sports Captains for 2026👏

A proud moment at Whole School Assembly this morning as our Winter Sports Captains were announced for the season ahead.

RUGBY
Captain: Dylan O
Vice Captains: Kai F & Calum R

TENNIS
Performance Academy Co-Captains: Oscar P & David D

Development Academy Co-Captains: Quintin W & Louis W

GOLF
Captain: Guillaume H

FOOTBALL
Co-Captains: Kaydn P & Fergus W

FIVES
Captain: James R

Congratulations to all our new captains. We’re looking forward to seeing them lead their teams and represent Merchiston throughout the season.

05/09/2026

Take a closer look at life at Merchiston.

Join us on Friday 25 September, 14:00–16:00, for Merchiston Meets: A Closer Look – a relaxed opportunity to explore the School during a normal school day and experience Merchiston as it happens.

Tour the School, see lessons, sport and activities in action, meet our Head and members of staff, and enjoy tea, coffee and an informal Q&A.

It’s a chance to experience the School first-hand and ask the questions that matter to you.

📅 Friday 25 September 2026
🕑 14:00–16:00

We’d love to welcome you to Merchiston. Register your place today.

https://loom.ly/sDB71ng

03/09/2026

As a new academic year gets underway, we’re taking a moment to look back at a landmark event from last term: our inaugural Technologies and Creative Arts Exhibition.

Held just before the summer break, the exhibition brought together outstanding work across Art & Design, Design Technology, Computing, Electronics and Music, celebrating the creativity, innovation and dedication of our pupils.

More than a showcase of finished pieces, the exhibition celebrated the journey behind them – the imagination, perseverance, technical skill and problem-solving involved in turning an idea into something real.

Every project told a story of curiosity, experimentation and growth.

We were delighted to welcome parents, staff, alumni, industry guests and members of the wider community, while also showcasing the inspiring impact of our Artist in Residence programme.

We are incredibly proud of what our pupils achieved and excited to see where their creativity, ideas and ambition take them next.

28/08/2026

Welcome back!

Today, we welcome our pupils back to Merchiston after a well-deserved summer break.

It has been lovely to see familiar faces back on campus, catching up with friends and settling in, alongside those joining the Merchiston community for the first time.

There’s a real sense of energy and excitement across the School, and we’re looking forward to all that lies ahead.

Here’s to a fantastic year at Merchiston.

Ready Ay Ready.

27/08/2026

Discover what life at Merchiston has to offer, both on and off the field.

Join us at Melrose Rugby Club on Friday 18 September, 6.30–9pm, for an informal evening of rugby, drinks and conversation.

Meet our Head, Huw Jones, members of our staff and sports coaches, alongside special guest Greig Laidlaw, former Scotland rugby captain, and hear first-hand about the opportunities and experiences that shape a Merchiston education.

Reserve your place- https://loom.ly/TLE5DJM

25/08/2026

Saturday Rugby Club is back at Merchiston, starting August 29th. 🏉

Open to P7 and S1 rugby players from local schools and clubs, Saturday Rugby is a great opportunity to develop skills, build confidence and enjoy the game, with focused training and the chance to play fixtures.

Saturdays, 9.30am to 11.00am.

Free to attend, registration required.

Register now - https://loom.ly/wBPgcLA

24/08/2026

Where next for the Class of 2026? 🎓

Following the good news of the Class of 2026’s A Level results, we’re delighted to share more about the cohort’s next steps after Merchiston.

70% of graduates are moving on to their first-choice destination, rising to 84% when second-choice destinations are included.

Of our UK-based university applicants, 48% will take up places at Russell Group universities, including Imperial College London, University College London and Durham University. Other notable destinations include the University of St Andrews, Abertay University and Harper Adams University.

We are also delighted that 100% of our applicants for Law and Medicine have secured places at their first-choice universities.

Beyond these numbers, we are equally proud of the range of choices our pupils have made. One of our Arkwright Scholars will take up a Degree Apprenticeship, studying at the University of Warwick alongside working with a global engineering firm. Others are moving into Further Education, professional rugby and international study, with destinations including Canada, the USA and Italy.

As Dr Mechie, Assistant Head Academic, reflects:

“I am proud of all of our Leavers, and of the way their rich and varied destinations reflect the rich and varied journeys that they have taken throughout their Merchiston careers.”

We look forward to following those journeys as the Class of 2026 takes its next steps beyond Merchiston.

Ready Ay Ready.

20/08/2026

Celebrating GCSE Success

Today we are delighted to celebrate the achievements of our GCSE pupils, with 39% of all entries awarded grades 7–9.

Behind that headline figure are the achievements of individual pupils, with 76% of the cohort achieving at least one grade 7, 8 or 9.

There are so many different successes to celebrate: a grade 9 in Art, rewarding an exceptional piece of creative work; a grade 4 in Maths, reflecting enormous grit and determination; a grade 7 in Latin, born of intellectual curiosity and commitment; a grade 6 in English, representing the triumph over a significant personal challenge.

As Calum Mechie, Assistant Head Academic, reflects:

“These individual achievements remind us that success does not look the same for every pupil. We are excited to see what our pupils can achieve in the next stage of their Merchiston journeys as they focus further on their individual strengths and apply their remarkable range of skills and aptitudes to Sixth Form study.”

Congratulations to all our pupils on their achievements today. We are immensely proud of you.

Ready Ay Ready.

19/08/2026

It is with profound sadness that we share the news that our Chaplain, Rev Nick Blair, passed away earlier this month.

Nick was a much-loved member of the Merchiston community. His warmth, wisdom, compassion and deep humanity touched the lives of countless pupils, colleagues, parents and Merchistonians, and his contribution to the life of the school was extraordinary.

Above all, Nick will be remembered for the person he was. He had a gift for making people feel valued, not simply for what they did, but for who they were. That gift was rooted in his kindness, faith, humour and genuine care for others.

Our thoughts and prayers remain first and foremost with Nick's wife, Fi, and their family.

With Fi and the family's blessing, we are sharing details of the Service of Thanksgiving for Nick's life, to which all those within the Merchiston community who knew Nick and wish to attend are warmly welcome.

Service of Thanksgiving for the Life of Rev Nick Blair
Saturday 29 August 2026
2.00pm
Central Hall, Tollcross, Edinburgh

The family have asked that, rather than sending flowers or other tributes, those who wish to do so consider making a donation to Our Neighbours, a charity in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, dear to Nick and the family's hearts: www.ourneighbours.org

Nick's loss is felt deeply across the Merchiston community. He will be greatly missed.

13/08/2026

Celebrating the Class of 2026 🎓

A proud day at Merchiston as we celebrate our 2026 Leavers and another year of strong A Level results.

42% of grades were awarded at A/A* - our highest proportion of top grades since the pandemic, with 25% of our A Level students achieving one or more A*.

Behind every result is a story of hard work, ambition and perseverance, supported by the teachers, families and wider Merchiston community who have encouraged our boys along the way.

To every member of the Class of 2026: congratulations. We are incredibly proud of what you have achieved and excited to see where your next chapter takes you.

Ready for the next challenge. Ready for the world.

Ready Ay Ready.

Address

294 Colinton Road
Edinburgh
EH130PU

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 4pm
Tuesday	9am - 4pm
Wednesday	9am - 4pm
Thursday	9am - 4pm
Friday	9am - 1pm

Telephone

+441313122200

Website

http://www.merchiston.co.uk/

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