year 10- Merchiston castle / Dauntsey

[kkmum01]

webmate,
Any advice for the choice in above 2 schools for full boarding?
Your feedback is much appreciated.

Dauntsey is according to a mum I was talking to a work a few months ago whose DC is there so I have to assume she knows primarily weekly/flexi/day, very few full boarders. I've never heard of Merchiston Castle.
There are very few schools where the vast majority really full board and schools can be be dishonest cagey about how many do when asked especially if they have a mixture of weekly full flexi boarders and they want your money. One friend went round every dorm stood at the end of every bed and asked if this one full boarded weekly boarded etc, the school claimed to have 60% full boarders but she'd heard otherwise by the time she'd finished it turned out to be 20%! The ISI reports also don't share my definition of full boarding - children who don't go home any night of the week including Sat/Sun so they're no help.

Just looked up Merchiston Castle it's in Edinborough no wonder I've never heard of it! Are you outside of the UK?

Thanks. We are from Taiwan.

I know about Merchiston Castle. It has a high percentage of boarders, maybe around 2/3. It is an academic school (also good at sports) and gets good exam results. It has a fairly high number of overseas boys and it does seem to have a bit of an "old boys school" type reputation. Having said that they have spent a bit of money recently doing up some of the boarding houses. I have a friend who teaches there. Edinburgh is lovely.

starving-Thanks for your advice. My son loves techology, electronics and science. Will it be good for him to study in MC?

My DS is currently at Merchiston but in a younger year. It is fantastic for science/ engineering subjects and enters boys into national competitions in all these subjects with great success. They have won many awards for engineering particularly, and science and engineering are the top choices for University courses. Have a good look at the website as there is loads of information on there about all of this. Technolgy challenge Engineering Scholarship Royal Engineering prize Physics olympiad

In the senior school it is 70%+ full boarding with a mix of boys from all over the world (21 countries at the last count) with a high proportion particularly in the sixth form. Indeed, we are guardians for a boy from Hong Kong who is in year 9.

There is a great sporting tradition and a very active music department, and as it is a small school (~475 including the junior school) everyone gets to participate in whatever interests them. This also means that pastoral care is great as the boys all know each other and the teachers kow all the boys.
Do contact me via PM if you have specific questions and I would be happy to help.

We looked at Dauntseys 12 months ago - at that time I was told there were 50% boarders at year 9+, but I got the impression few of these were full boarders. Most children are from a very local area and to be honest its not the most happening of areas.

Sunny Dauntseys website states they've 40% boarders.

DD was full boarder at Dauntseys last year (Y9) while we were abroad. There were lots of other full boarders (around 40 in her year) - so around 20% of total year group as lots of day pupils, but more than enough for good weekends/choice of friends/not feeling a gooseberry. She loved it. I was incredibly impressed with school/atmosphere/teaching/feel - down to earth, grounded, thoughtful. Can't recommend it more highly. Very sorry she had to move on our return to UK. PM me if you'd like to know more.