Merchiston Schools Leading Educationalist and Headmaster Embarks on Middle East Tour

  • 11 years ago
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Andrew Hunter is widely recognized as a leading educationalist within the UK independent sector. As the Headmaster of Scotland’s only boys’ boarding school, Merchiston, Edinburgh, Mr Hunter appreciates that choosing a boarding school is difficult enough when you live in the UK. For parents who live overseas, selecting a school is a massive responsibility and perhaps a daunting prospect.

Mr Hunter will be visiting various cities in the Middle East from 22-28 November 2012 and will spend time meeting with prospective parents, schools, and members of the Merchiston community in Dubai, Muscat, Doha, Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. Whether you have never considered boarding school, or are perhaps considering which UK school you will choose for your child, Mr Hunter would be delighted to share some of his knowledge and experience with parents.

A strong advocate of single-sex education, Mr Hunter believes that when it comes to education, boys are different from girls. At his own school, Merchiston, he believes by understanding what makes boys different one is in a better position to help them achieve. The School’s goal is to help every boy reach his full potential and leave Merchiston ready for the world.

Merchiston has strong and effective approaches to develop each boy’s personal achievement and boasts an impressive record of helping boys excel far beyond their expected results at GCSE and A level. The School’s academic record is excellent and it is consistently in the top flight of UK independent schools.

Pupils’ applications to the most prestigious colleges continue to meet with success including those to the Russell Group Universities and Oxbridge. The roots of this success go back many years, with the building blocks currently being laid with the youngest boys aged 8.

Merchiston is set in 100 acres of beautiful parkland, four miles from the centre of Edinburgh and just 20 minutes from Edinburgh’s international airport, which has over 100 direct routes.

Only an hour’s flight from London, Edinburgh’s rich culture offers stimulation and excitement to the boys, whether they are visiting an art gallery or attending an international rugby fixture.

Merchiston’s sporting programme plays an extremely important role in School life and the team of staff works hard to achieve excellence within a sport for all philosophy offering training and competition in over 20 sports.

At present, the School has internationalists in: rugby, cricket, athletics, cross country, shooting, table tennis, modern pentathlon and skiing. As one of the leading innovators of sports education in the UK, the School established Scotland’s first tennis academy in 2007 and more recently its own golf academy.

Mr Hunter aims to provide a genuine all-round education and high quality pastoral care is central to this. Merchiston was rated ‘Excellent’ for its Quality of Care and Support and Quality of Environment by the Care Inspectorate in 2010.

With modern and bright boarding houses and staff available to support boys and parents, Merchiston exudes a homely and comfortable atmosphere.

“We are a very nurturing school with the highest standards of pastoral care,” says Headmaster, Andrew Hunter. “In terms of value added to each boy, we are a high performing academic school.

Merchiston believes firmly in the significance of a boy’s academic platform in putting him in a position of choice for his life, but equally, the daily menu of co-curricular activities at Merchiston teaches the boys vital life skills for the future. In other words, we develop all-rounders with a sense of values.”

The warmth with which Merchiston parents speak of the School is rather special. One parent says that joining the School has been like becoming part of the family.

If you would like to arrange a personal meeting with Mr Hunter or to attend one of the events he is hosting, please contact RSVP@merchiston.co.uk or call 0044 131 312 2235/6 for details.

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