Colinton, Edinburgh EH13 0PU
10 reasons to choose Merchiston Juniors
Top line
Merchiston Juniors has a Schoolsmith Score® of 84. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Edinburgh and one of the 3 best primary schools for 3 miles.
School fundamentals
Merchiston Juniors is an independent prep day and boarding school for boys between the ages of 7 and 13 years. Boarding from Year 7 for the 30% of pupils who board. All are weekly or flexi boarders. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is the junior division of Merchiston Castle School, an all-through school to age 18. Merchiston Juniors fees are £6,000 per term (2025/26). Full boarding fees are £12,082 per term. Fees include VAT and lunches.
Average class size
Merchiston Juniors has one class per year and an average class size of 16 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
After Juniors most pupils move up to Merchiston Castle Middle School.
The Merchiston Juniors curriculum
School curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum with some additions and variations. It also includes PSHE, French, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Latin. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups and visiting speakers. Outdoor adventure activities and residential trips from Year 7.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for music, art, languages, computing, drama and sport throughout, and for all subjects from Primary 7. Also, in Primary 7 and Senior 1, pupils take their lessons at the senior school.
Sport at Merchiston Juniors
5 Games and 1 PE session per week. School offers over 20 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and an extensive extra-curriculum. Representative teams in major sports from Primary 3. Tennis and golf academies. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in golf.
The Arts at Merchiston Juniors
Art and music are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. Drama is part of the co-curriculum. All pupils learn an instrument in class and up to half take extra-curricular instrument lessons. Two whole school choirs and several instrument ensembles. The school offers each pupil over 5 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 8.00am to 6.15pm, or 7.40pm for the oldest pupils.
Find another school near Merchiston Juniors
George Watson’s College Junior School (1.9 miles); Edinburgh Steiner Lower School (2.6 miles); ESMS Junior School (3.7 miles); St George’s School for Girls Junior & Lower (3.8 miles); Fettes Prep (4.6 miles).
Merchiston Castle School (0 miles); George Watson’s College (1.9 miles); St Mary’s Music School (3.1 miles); Stewart’s Melville College (3.7 miles).