Your school guide
Merchiston Castle School
Merchiston places English Year 7-age pupils in Second Form/P7 Juniors; its main Senior School intake starts in Third Form.
Independent school · Edinburgh
Build skills and confidence.
Support your child’s everyday learning with Plusling’s original questions and clear explanations. Follow Merchiston Castle School’s own admissions guidance.
Try five free questions. See the feedback for yourself.
Meet the school
At a glance
Facts checked
- Pupils
- Junior provision includes co-educational Forest and boys-only Merchiston Juniors; Senior School is boys-only
- Merchiston Castle School
Plan your approach
Entry information
For an English Year 7-age pupil, the current school structure places this cohort in Second Form/P7 in Merchiston Juniors; the Senior School’s main entry point is Third Form/Year 8. Admissions are rolling, with assessment depending on age and stage; the school may use virtual CAT4 or previous exam results, alongside a school report and reference. The junior provision is boys-only in the current Merchiston structure.
Entry stage: Second Form / P7 (English Year 7 age); Senior School begins Third Form / Year 8
Assessment provider: CAT4 (where appropriate)
The admissions process
- Enquire and arrange a visit or taster day
- Register
- Complete an age- and stage-appropriate assessment; the school says CAT4 or previous exam results may be used where appropriate
- Provide a current-school report and reference
- Receive an offer subject to availability
Read the official details: Admissions information from Merchiston Castle School
Go to the source
Official links for your shortlist
Use the school’s current admissions information to check which sample papers or familiarisation materials apply to your child’s entry year.
Know what to expect
Follow the school’s assessment guidance.
If Merchiston asks your child to take CAT4, GL Assessment advises against preparing for the test; examples are included at the start. Ask the school which assessment applies to your child’s age and stage.
Read the official guidance: Merchiston Castle School · GL Assessment
Keep the practical steps clear
Your application starting points
Use the official links on this page to answer these questions for your child’s entry year.
Check the entry point and eligibility
Confirm the year group, age requirements and any conditions that apply to your child.
Put the right dates in your diary
Note any published registration, assessment, application and offer-response dates that apply to your child’s route. They may be separate steps.
Follow the assessment guidance
Check what the school asks your child to do and whether it recommends any preparation. Use its own instructions and the assessment provider’s advice.
Check fees and financial support
Look at fees, bursaries and scholarships, including any separate forms, evidence and deadlines.
Picture your child’s everyday life here.
An open day is a chance to look beyond the exam. Useful questions to take with you:
- How do you help new pupils settle in and make friends?
- Who can a child turn to when they feel worried or stuck?
- How do you help pupils recover from a setback and discover their strengths?
Know where to focus
See what your child is learning.
See the topics your child has practised, revisit questions that need another look and choose a focus for the next session. Plusling helps you put your time where it can be useful.
- Topic summaries and practice history
- Choose topics in Focus Practice
- Progress to discuss with the adults helping them
A little learning, often
Build confidence one question at a time.
Explore Plusling together for everyday learning. Try five free questions and talk through the feedback.
Before you apply
- Assessment requirements vary by year group and stage; ask admissions which route applies to your child’s placement.
Plusling’s guide to Merchiston Castle School is independently written. The school and its admissions authority publish the official arrangements.
Contains government school-register data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Primary sources
- Scotland: official school register Scottish Government
- Merchiston Castle School: official website Merchiston Castle School
- Admissions journey Merchiston Castle School
- Admissions FAQs: assessment and rolling entry Merchiston Castle School
- School structure and year-group mapping Merchiston Castle School
- The Forest Junior admissions Merchiston Castle School
- CAT4 information for parents GL Assessment