[10], The Merchiston Castle School tartan was designed by Kinloch Anderson in 1988. David Spawforth was succeeded as headmaster in 1998 by Mr Andrew Hunter, formerly of Worksop College and Bradfield College, a staunch supporter of developing the ‘all-round pupil’ and both strengthening and growing the international ties that his predecessor had initiated. Building began in 1928 including the Chalmers and Rogerson boarding houses, designed by Sir Robert Lorimer. Merchiston Castle School Merchiston Castle Edinburgh City Of Edinburgh Lothian Scotland OS Grid Ref: Undefined Denomination: Undefined; Description Memorial Hall in the grounds of the school, with 6 wall mounted bronze plaques for WW1 and 2 wall mounted bronze plaques for WW2. 1983 saw not only the 125th anniversary of the annual rugby match against The Edinburgh Academy, but also the 150th anniversary of the school’s foundation. In May 1833, Charles Chalmers took a lease of Merchiston Castle (the former home of John Napier, the inventor of logarithms) — which at that time stood in rural surroundings — and moved the school. No formal celebrations were held for the opening of the new school as the centenary of the school’s foundation was so close. Merchiston Castle School is a boarding and day school for boys aged 7-18 in Edinburgh, UK. A Scottish country dance class was started in 1949, with a Highland Ball inaugurated in March 1950, starting a tradition of a love of dance – or at least awareness by some that a competence in dancing is a useful social asset to acquire – that continues at Merchiston to this day. In 1998 Hunter decided to appoint an ‘Academic Management Team’ (nowadays the Academic Leadership Team) to support the Director of Studies. The Merchistonian Football Club for former pupils of the School was a founding member of the Scottish Rugby Union and was involved in the very first rugby international,[7] supplying three players. I have no doubt that his tenure as Senior Deputy Head at Worksop College will stand him in good stead for the headship of Merchiston Castle School, and I believe that Mr Anderson has the abilities, skills and personality to lead Merchiston through the next stage of its journey.”. MERCHISTON CASTLE SCHOOL - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity A perusal of Merchistonian Magazines of the times shows Rogerson as a kindly, understanding and engaging personality who expected each boy to do his best in work or in play. There was much planning for the sesquicentennial celebrations of the school’s foundation. It is divided into Merchiston Juniors (ages 7–13), Middle Years (ages 13–16) and a Sixth Form. Like many schools up and down the United Kingdom there has never been a more important time to present a clear offer, which meets the needs of families and continues to deliver a rounded, yet academically focused education that will serve our boys well in their lives beyond school. Finally, an Art and Craft Centre was constructed between Gibson House and The Dell. Dahliarose 22:23, 4 September 2007 (UTC) Advertising and bias. About Merchiston Castle School. Over this time, the greater ‘currency’ on the UCAS tariff for university entry saw a dramatic reduction in the number of Sixth Formers following courses in Scottish Highers. Merchiston Through the Ages 1878 As adult workers became hard to replace as men signed up for the military, the Merchiston boys found themselves waiting at and clearing their own meals, a Pioneer group helped with general grounds’ maintenance (some of the school playing field were ploughed up for growing crops), and senior boys of the Combined Cadet Corps formed a part of the local Home Guard. There is excessive detail on the house system which is only of interest to people at the school. The school can cater to 1,200 students aged between 5 and 18. The school changed hands once more, this time being taken on by an assistant master who had joined Harvey’s staff in 1858 – one John Johnston Rogerson. A boy entering at J4 will spend ten years at the school, allowing much time to develop talents and interests to the full. Edinburgh and Perthshire: The Public School Tradition. By 1998 when David Spawforth retired after seventeen very active years at the helm, the school roll had grown to 368 boys – a 21% increase during his headmastership. This page was last edited on 31 December 2020, at 01:20. I began my teaching career at Worksop College, Nottinghamshire and learnt a huge amount during my time there. On Monday 1 August 1938 a letter by George Lawson, President of the Edinburgh Mathematical Society, concerning Merchiston Castle was published in The Scotsman. Friday 16 October 2020 ‘The boys are gentlemen in both senses of the word – they have confidence without arrogance,’ says Head Jonathan Anderson. Harvey seems to have overseen few development changes at the school and pupil numbers started to fall. When hostilities broke out in the First World War, Merchistonians were not slow to enlist. Cricket ‘divisions’ were introduced to popularise the sport amongst the younger boys. Formerly the first appointed Government Inspector of Schools in Scotland, Gibson continued Chalmers’ ethos, extending the school with new buildings and developing the tradition of a happy school with a ‘family atmosphere’ introduced by the founder. The School had been planning to build a chapel, and the view soon changed that there was a need for a memorial to the Fallen – a Memorial Hall. In October 1924 the purchase of the Colinton House estate was completed, and the old site and accompanying playing fields were sold to the Merchant Company of Edinburgh who were looking for a site for the rebuilding and relocation of George Watson’s College. Gibson’s untimely death in 1856 at the age of forty-three saw the school sold to Mr Thomas Harvey. Dominating the school was the Memorial Hall, whose striking oak interior and large organ provided a backdrop not only for Sunday services but also for morning and evening assemblies, for Prep, for examinations, concerts, plays and prize-givings. We do this by employing the very finest teachers and coaches. The management of the new school was to be by a Board of Governors, part elected from the Merchistonian Club and part nominated by five public bodies. Two years later Rogerson, his end achieved, retired from active teaching. Lessons are taught in English and pupils from grades 1 to 9 follow the English national curriculum, with additional access to Mandarin language learning. A Music Auditorium was built from the former Gymnasium, and the old tennis courts to the north of Gibson House were replaced by the elephantine ‘Air Hall’ to give an indoor space for PE and various sporting activities. Four ‘long’ days (labelled 1, 3, 5 and 7) falling on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays alternate with four ‘short’ days when teaching only takes place in the mornings, falling on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The Headmaster has already put in place a number of improvements to strengthen the school’s approaches to safeguarding. For a relatively small school, Merchiston continues to over-achieve against national figures academically. Also at this time, rearrangement of rooms in the basement of Gibson House saw the introduction of a Sixth Form club (‘The 6A Club’) where the eldest boys could relax and entertain. We are also cognisant of the need to ensure that Merchiston remains a school of choice for families and as such we are currently working to define our strategy for the next ten years. Upgraded so that all boarders have their own study bedroom (some larger ones being shared during the day with a day-boy colleague) in what was formerly Rogerson West (the house now being renamed ‘Rogerson’), with a new Sixth Form day-boy House (the new Evans) in part of the former Rogerson East: the main stairwell of the latter now allows access to ‘Mount Olympus’, housing the Classics, Economics and Geography departments, together with a kitchen area and formal eating area for ‘Masterchef’ classes. Pupil numbers fell as low as 142 before they started to increase again, the school rapidly filling to capacity. In 1948 new War Memorial tablets with the 81 names of the Merchistonian Fallen in the Second World War were unveiled outside the Memorial Hall. We consider that it is a strategic imperative that Merchiston is well-positioned to provide our students with the best possible education and breadth of opportunities now and in the years ahead. The plan was for a school of 250 pupils, all boarders, built around a central Memorial Hall with a classroom block across it to the south, and study blocks, dining hall, kitchen and accommodation for the domestic staff to the north. After listening to a recital in the Memorial Hall, Her Majesty visited many exhibitions and displays around the school, and planted a commemorative tree as her mother had done 50 years previously. The post-war years saw a flourishing in the Arts as well, with very professionally-produced School Plays becoming established. The museum housed a skeleton, a mummy and cases of biological and botanical specimens – all fascinating to the younger boys. A good start. Some parents also find that starting their sons at Merchiston at 7, 8, 9 or 10 ensures that they avoid the stress and uncertainty around Common Entrance exams – or the decision making process around which senior school they will choose. An additional classroom block (called at the time ‘The New Block’, but more recently ‘Mappa Mundi’) was opened on the site of the former ‘Air Hall’ in 1991, which with the adjoining Theatre Block (now ‘Napier’) enabled teaching to continue in classes up to 20 as the school slowly expanded in size. We’d love you to join us on the journey of our great school. A continual need to prepare for inspection by these external agencies became a feature of the work of the teaching and pastoral staff alike, keeping ahead of the changing views of the educational establishment. In terms of new facilities, four stand out in the years of Andrew Hunter’s headmastership, all supported by significant fundraising campaigns. When he retired in 1936, after 21 years at the helm, the Governors appointed Mr Cecil Evans as the new Headmaster. Downloads Club Links Useful Links. The school’s Board of Governors with its newly appointed Chair, Gareth Baird, is to work with the Independent Schools Link Inspector … One major development was the building of Laidlaw House, as a residence for Sixth formers, but other refurbishment continues. In September 1939, masters returned to school early for the autumn term to fill sandbags and to black-out windows. A long-overdue refurbishment of the kitchens and Dining Hall took place in 1987, allowing a new cafeteria-style approach to meals with a wider range of well-cooked food. The new facilities and the space the new school provided had a remarkable invigorating effect on the whole school – better quality food from the new kitchens, copious amounts of hot water, the space for games on separate pitches rather than sharing overcrowded spaces, and places of refuge where boys could find time to carry out hobbies or just rest. Merchiston pupils studying A level Government and Politics were joined by pupils from other Edinburgh schools to hear Ms Davidson speak briefly about the future of her party before she answered questions. The successful Dramatic Society and divisional music competitions restored aspects of the character of the school which had slipped in the period of transition from Merchiston to Colinton, to balance athleticism and academic endeavour. Firstly, the construction of the Robertson Building – named after the Merchistonian and long-serving Chairman of the Board of Governors, the Hon. The weekend of 3-5 June was deemed ‘Celebration Weekend’, which saw many sporting and cultural events held to showcase various aspects of the school, culminating in the Commemoration Service of Thanksgiving. The teaching staff expanded from 32 in 1984 to 46 in 1990. It is a beautiful (mathematically written) letter: MERCHISTON CASTLE SCHOOL AS REMAND. Merchiston Preparatory School was founded in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1892. We have always been pleased to welcome families and their sons to Merchiston from Primary 4 and we look forward to this continuing in the future. During the same period, year-on-year academic results saw Merchiston’s A Level top grade pass rates soar. The new theatre allowed for a flourishing of the dramatic arts at Merchiston, whose productions are detailed in the framed posters around its interior walls. In 2003 the new Pringle Centre was opened, providing separate teaching accommodation and changing rooms for the junior boys. The Directors were able to secure the purchase of the Colinton House estate, and a new era in Merchiston’s history was about to unfold. On Friday 3 June a major Anniversary concert was held, entitled ‘Music for Royal Occasions’ and featuring not only the school’s orchestra and choir, but also various guest performers. The next day, boys from Rogerson East – duly attired in period costume – ran from the old school site at Merchiston to the present one in Colinton. Merchiston Juniors also offers parents and boys fantastic added value; the facilities and teaching excellence in science, ICT and technology is significantly enhanced … [5], In 2018, 50% of grades achieved at A Level were A*/A. Senior students study for the IGCSE and A-levels. We look forward to sharing our plans in due course, A boarding and day school for boys aged 7-18, © 2019 Merchiston. The Science laboratories in Gibson house were all refurbished to high, modern standards (Chemistry in 2003, Physics in 2004 and Biology in 2005). Merchiston Castle School is an independent school for boys in the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. Zoom & Print. An experienced teacher, Dr J J Rogerson (known affectionately as ‘the Chief’ by boys and staff alike) was the epitome of a true leader. In 1967, most of the old Sanatorium was converted to a junior boarding house named after the main benefactor, Mr James Summer Pringle. The tartan retains the sett of the Napier tartan, but changes the white to royal blue, the royal blue to navy, and the white line to scarlet to reflect the school colours. This enables an increasingly accurate forecasting of a pupils potential performance in academic subjects, which in turn aids subject choices in the Sixth Form. Workmen were still putting the finishing touches to the Colinton House conversion (now renamed Gibson House), the new sanatorium in the south of the site and to the fives courts, but everything was finished by Christmas of that year. It is divided into Merchiston Juniors School Life in Admirable Surroundings", "Merchiston marks the arrival of Prince George", "The oldest running rugby fixture in the world", "Teacher found guilty of indecent exposure at top private school in Edinburgh gets absolute discharge and is still in classroom", "Scottish school opens branch in Shenzhen", Merchiston Castle School's page on Scottish Schools Online, Merchiston Castle School's page on The Good Schools Guide, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Merchiston_Castle_School&oldid=997334424, Educational institutions established in 1833, Member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. In late June 1933, the school was honoured by the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York (later to become Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth), who toured the Memorial Hall, took lunch with guests in the Dining hall, then returned to the Memorial Hall to join in Prize-Giving. As we hurtle towards our 200th anniversary, there’s plenty to celebrate and look forward to. The history section needs expansion. Merchiston is wholly independent, and having no Endowment or Foundation, relies entirely on the support of individual benefactors and its own limited resources. Here Charles Chalmers, with the help of some assistant tutors, taught a small number of pupils until their numbers grew too large for those premises. [12], Gordon Cruden, a French teacher, stood trial at Edinburgh sheriff court and was found guilty in December 2015 of three charges of indecent exposure at the school between 1980 and 1985. As the school grew, so did the city of Edinburgh with houses encroaching onto the Borough Muir as far south as Church Hill and Morningside. He came over to say goodbye to the boys and staff at the end of term, shaking hands with each and every one (from which Merchiston’s tradition of Handshaking at the end of key services and assemblies may derive); he sadly died in the August. He resigned in 1863 on his appointment to the rectorship of The Edinburgh Academy. The school focuses on providing a world-class, global, outward-looking education for its students while giving them the opportunities to … It is based upon the Napier tartan as the school was founded in the 1830s in the original home of John Napier of Merchiston, now part of Edinburgh Napier University. Incredibly amongst schools, many of those have gone onto full International honours; in fact Merchiston can boast a tally of 64 full Internationalists. Find ancestors born in or around Juniper Green, Edinburgh, nationwide plus military records or trace war graves The School takes pride in specializing in the education of boys and preparing them for the world, developing aspirational, and sensitive, yet gentle-men! That is why wellbeing underpins everything we do. The Saturday was rounded off by a magnificent Commemoration Ball in the Memorial Hall, with a superb buffet supper in the Dining Hall – and even a disco in one of the upstairs classrooms in the Main Building! School Address. Formerly on the staff of Winchester College and a housemaster at Wellington College, David Spawforth was employed to modernise Merchiston. Merchiston Castle School, where the day pupil fees are £21,495 per year, requires additional support according to Education Scotland. Plans were started to erect a Memorial Hall in the West Gardens, in the only site available for a building of the required size, and by 1922 the architect, Mr N A Dick, had had plans for the hall provisionally approved. It is from here that the school name is derived. The curriculum has been devised so as to relate the history of Scotland to that of Britain, and to place Britain in a wider international context. Our continuous investment in the future of the School has, therefore, been due to the success of four previous appeals, to the generosity of parents, Merchistonians, Trusts and well-wishers, and also to the careful management of School finances. Cecil Stagg, in failing health, steered the school carefully through the centenary celebrations and through those early years in Colinton. In 1833 the castle was let to Charles Chalmers and a school was founded at Merchiston. It has around 470 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 7 and 18 as either boarders or day pupils; it was modelled after English public schools. Evans set about improving the scholarship of the school with the introduction of the Oxford and Cambridge Higher Certificate as the exam for the Sixth Form. In 1988 the Sanatorium at Pringle was closed in favour of a modern Medical Centre in the west wing of the ground floor of the Main Building. In May 1878 the new cricket square there was inaugurated by a match between a Scottish and an English XI. Four houses for married Housemasters were built (‘The Bank’ by the Swimming Pool, and three others in echelon to the rear of the east side of the school), and two others in 1974 joined the four built for married staff in The Cedars on the north side of the Walled Garden. Sports Map; Opponent Maps & Links; Sports Contacts; School Website; Sports Map. Address: Merchiston Castle School Colinton Road EDINBURGH ... Merchiston Castle School, Colinton Road, EDINBURGH, Midlothian, EH13 0PU The school has won the Scottish Schools U18 Rugby Cup six times; 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, and 2018. Plans to replace the Evans Memorial Swimming Pool with a new sports’ hall/swimming pool complex on the bank above the athletics arena and a further all-weather pitch in the area of the ‘Himalayas’ pitches were not realised due to a lack of funding and some structural difficulties. Bringing together Merchiston’s hitherto fragmented library resources, enhanced with new stock and library events to encourage reading and the borrowing of books, it continues to be a significant success. before grass was sown. A shared realisation by the Governors and the new Headmaster that Merchiston needed to grow still further to ensure it would survive, Andrew Hunter threw himself into recruitment and marketing of the school, appointing new Admissions and External Relations teams as part of a general expansion of administrative staff at a time when legislation bore down heavily on independent schools in Scotland, and keeping on top of the paperwork involved with liaising with various external agencies became a necessary part of running the school as a viable business. It is from here that the school name is derived. The controversial but necessary selling of the staff houses in The Cedars, which created an initial fund to kick-start many of the above developments, resulted in a subtle change to the life of teaching staff; although some of the loss was offset by some staff flats in Laidlaw, many more teachers had to commute into work in the increasing traffic difficulties, and it became harder to instil a sense of community within the staff body compared to what was achieved in the 1980s and 90s. Finally, the Headmaster and Governors were concerned that most boys continued to sleep in dormitories, and some studies were shared by three senior boys at a time. Mr Evans was in poor health by May 1957, and increasingly absent from school. Charles Chalmers – younger brother of Dr Thomas Chalmers, moral philosopher, theologian and Leading light in the Disruption of the Church in Scotland in 1843 – started a small school in 1828, then moved to larger premises in 1833 at Merchiston Tower from where the school name is derived. Bush saw the pupil roll swell to 290, which eased financial pressure on the school as the cost of the new school was finally cleared. History []. The boy’s day was long, starting with prayers at 7.30 a.m., breakfast at 8.00 a.m., and lessons from 9.00 a.m. till noon. The same year saw the introduction of a school cap bearing the school crest for the first time. Plans were also put into place to find a way of increasing Sixth Form entry. A brilliant Oxford-educated classicist himself, the new owner perhaps lacked the vision of a broader educationalist. Merchiston Castle School is an independent boarding school for boys in the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. Back Field was levelled to create a grassed athletics track and arena. The opening of Laidlaw House allowed for improvements to boarding accommodation for Fifth Formers. Merchiston International School opened its doors in August 2018 as the first school in Longhua District, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. This means that although Mr Cruden was found guilty he was not convicted of the offences libelled. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. By 1918, 178 former pupils and staff had lost their lives in the service of their country. Family History - Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh or Nationwide A truly comprehensive collection of Family Research sites. Mention should also be made of the contribution of Mrs Yvonne Spawforth, who made it her business to know all the pupils by name, frequently inviting groups of them to Castle Gates, and strengthening the sense of community by involving the families of staff members at every possible school event. Two hours of games followed straight on from this, with an hour allotted to a late dinner before lessons resumed for three hours from 3.00 p.m. After an hour for tea at 6.00 p.m., Prep lasted until 9.00 p.m. On Saturdays there were no lessons but further Prep from 8.30-10.00 a.m. before up to seven hours dedicated to various sports and school matches, halting only temporarily for lunch; after tea on Saturdays the evening was given over to dancing lessons! Mr Smith moved to become Master of Dulwich College in the summer of 1914. On his acceptance of his headship of Merchiston, Mr Anderson commented, “I am immensely honoured to be appointed as the next Headmaster of Merchiston Castle School and relish the opportunity to build on the excellent work of Mr Hunter in leading the School in the next exciting phase of its development. [6], A range of sports and activities is available at the school; particularly in rugby union, which over 60 Merchistonians have played at international level. There were notable successes in minor sports, particularly in Fencing and in Rugby Fives – the latter encouraged by the construction of two Fives’ courts and regular coaching. The current school was then built, and the whole school moved to the new site for the autumn term of 1930. The long-term project to provide top quality accommodation for Sixth Formers, as well as more Sixth Form places, came to fruition with the opening of Laidlaw House – named after Merchistonian Lord Laidlaw of Rothiemay, a major donor to the fund. Merchiston boys continued to excel at various sports: few schools of Merchiston’s size could regularly put out seven rugby XVs on a Saturday; in 1990 a multisports option for the non-rugby players was introduced, called the ‘Eighth Game’. 80 percent of the teaching staff are from the United Kingdom. The abolition of the Assisted Places Scheme in 1997 and the closure of a number of preparatory ‘feeder’ schools in Scotland saw the lowering of the entry age to Merchiston from eleven years (into the First Form, introduced in 1994) to eight (into newly formed J4 and J5 from 2001) in an attempt to compensate for this shortfall. Mr Bush resigned in the summer of 1968, and Mr Mervyn Preston stood in as acting headmaster until the Governors appointed Mr Donald Forbes in 1969. A dining hall was built and increased boarding accommodation was found as the school grew. He now … Progressive rearrangement of the boarding accommodation in the early 1990s saw each Sixth Former get their own study bedroom in the two boarding houses involved (Rogerson West and Evans) as well as prefect rooms in the other houses. In 2008 there were 107 boys in Pringle, a doubling of numbers since the mid-1990s: Pringle continues to be a vital source of pupils for the senior school. The curriculum was expanded with GCEs at both GCSE and Advanced Level introduced to complement Scottish Highers, and the school became notably more ‘academic’ in its outlook and success. The school started from humble beginnings, based at Park Place from 1828 on a site now occupied by the McEwan Hall. Dramatic improvements to the quality of grass playing surfaces – as well as excellent presentation of the grounds as a whole – have been made by the School’s Works Department in recent years. It has around 470 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 7 and 18 as either boarding or day pupils; it was modelled after English public schools. The analysis of pupil performance against national standards has increased, with Merchiston using the ALIS and MidYIS systems for the middle and upper school pupils, and the InCAS system for juniors. The school grows and facilities need to keep pace. The previous season had seen all the school’s rugby XV go unbeaten, without a single point scored against them! Merchiston Castle School was delighted to welcome the Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist party, Ruth Davidson, to the School yesterday. New Tennis Courts were built next to the Walled Garden in 1970, and the Library was constructed from the old ‘Cloisters’ beneath the Memorial Hall, incorporating in its interior décor the old desk tops from the old school at Merchiston. Charity Number SC016580 | Privacy Policy | Legal, All You Need to know about Boarding (FAQs). However, the court did not proceed to a conviction, but dealt with the matter in terms of section 246 (3) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 by way of an absolute discharge. A new Miller Rifle Range adjoining the Pringle Wall was opened the same year. He gave money as a parting gift for the building of a new school library. [2] Over time, the number of pupils grew and the Merchiston Castle became too small to accommodate the school. He kept up a keen interest in the school until his death in 1903. In 1914 the property was let to Merchiston Castle School Ltd, but in 1924 the school moved to a new site at Colinton.In 1935 the castle passed to the City of Edinburgh, and was used by the National Fire Service during World War II, although the surrounding 19th-century buildings were then demolished. Rogerson took an extended lease on the Tower in 1895, and suggested that he transfer his interest in the school to a newly-formed Company, while retaining the greatest shareholding himself.