UK Boarding Schools | Independent Schools | Private Schools

The Schools
Stewart’s Melville College and The Mary Erskine School are amongst the most renowned of the Scottish independent schools. They promote an ethos of personal development for all and hold enviable reputations for academic excellence, sporting prowess and cultural achievement. The Mary Erskine School was founded in 1694 and has been at the forefront of girls’ education for over 300 years. Stewart’s Melville College was formed in 1972, when two of Edinburgh’s premier boys’ schools merged: Daniel Stewart’s College established in 1855 and Melville College founded in
1872. In 1978 the boys’ and girls’ junior departments merged, creating The Mary Erskine and Stewart’s Melville Junior School.

Co-education and single-sex education
Boys and girls are taught in a single-sex environment from the age of 11, an advantage now proven by some of the best academic results in Scotland. The two Senior Schools ‘twin’ all cultural and extracurricular activities, from joint cadet forces and outdoor pursuits to huge choral and musical events. In the sixth form, the Schools are twinned and boys and girls are taught together in preparation for the transition to higher education.

Boarding
The Schools have separate girls’ and boys’ boarding houses: Erskine House and Dean Park House. Both provide comfortable, modem living and learning accommodation. Boys and girls have spacious bedrooms. There is a genuine homely atmosphere in the houses, each of which has its own spacious, communal accommodation. Other facilities, such as the fully equipped computer suite and dining room, are shared in Dean Park House. The houses are managed by enthusiastic staff who run their houses along the lines of an extended family. The boarding staff work closely with their teaching colleagues to promote self-confidence in the boarders and to ensure that they learn to be tolerant, sociable and considerate of one another. There is regular communication with parents and guardians. Boarders benefit from the outstanding on-site facilities including a state-of-the-art swimming pool, fitness suite, games hall, Astroturf football/hockey pitches and  tennis courts. Both Dean Park House and Erskine House have a suite of computers, all with supervised access to the internet where boarders can keep in touch with home via e-mail. There are
also excellent music practice facilities within the boarding community.  Study-bedrooms are available for sixth-form boarders.

Single‑sex boarding in twinned schools, ideally suited to boys and girls, including brothers and sisters, from the age of ten.