ACADEMIC RESULTS 2019–20 As a community, we have developed an environment and culture in which our students are supported to perform to the very best of their ability. This underpins our record of academic success as a school, and we take pride in the hard work, enjoyment, and inspiration, which is to be found daily as a result. Our curriculum is focused on enabling every student to access subjects and courses which challenge, inspire, and prepare them for their chosen post- school destination. By drawing on the best of what both A Level and Scottish SQA Higher qualifications have to offer, we are able to provide real flexibility of choice and approach in our Upper Sixth year. This ensures that our students are able to move forward with confidence that they are ready for the next stage.
DR DALE CARTWRIGHT Deputy Head Learning and Teaching CELEBRATING MERCHISTON’S ACADEMIC RESULTS
In today’s competitive and global workplace, it is important that your son leaves school having achieved the very best of which he is capable, equipped for his next step.
This booklet showcases the formidable academic performance of our boys. Here are some of the key facts and figures:
• 3 As at A Level equates to 144 UCAS points. Merchiston’s average tally is 141 points. • 67% of successful applicants in 2020 went to UK Russell Group Universities, Bath, St Andrews and leading international institutions • 15 pupils achieved a clean sweep of A* / A grades at A Level • 25 pupils achieved a clean sweep of 9 / 8 / 7 grades at GCSE • 64% of grades at GCSE were 9 / 8 / 7
To be fully prepared for the next stage, your son will also need social and life skills in abundance. These are, of course, much harder to measure in a booklet. We hope you will visit us, meet the boys and let them tell you what they have gained here, above and beyond their academic success. GCSE RESULTS (GRADES 9 – 1)
NO. OF 2/1/U PASS RATE SUBJECT 9 (%) 8 (%) 7 (%) 6 (%) 5 (%) 4 (%) 3 (%) CANDIDATES (%) 9 – 4 (%)
ART 6 1 (17) 1 (17) 3 (50) 1 (17) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
BIOLOGY 36 5 (14) 9 (25) 8 (22) 2 (6) 5 (14) 4 (11) 1 (3) 2 (6) 92
CLASSICAL 4 1 (25) 1 (25) 1 (25) 1 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 CIVILISATION
CHEMISTRY 43 12 (28) 13 (30) 4 (9) 7(16) 3 (7) 2 (5) 1 (2) 1 (2) 95
COMPUTER 16 6 (38) 2 (13) 3 (19) 3 (19) 1 (6) 0 (0) 1 (6) 0 (0) 94 SCIENCE
DESIGN & 17 3 (18) 5 (29) 2 (12) 1 (6) 5 (29) 1 (6) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 TECHNOLOGY
EAL 4 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (50) 1 (25) 1 (25) 0 (0) 75
ELECTRONICS 8 1 (13) 2 (25) 2 (25) 1 (13) 2 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
ENGLISH 69 22 (32) 27 (39) 16 (23) 4 (6) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 LANGUAGE (I)
ENGLISH 55 19 (35) 11 (20) 13 (24) 12 (22) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 LITERATURE (I)
FRENCH 17 8 (47) 3 (18) 3 (18) 1 (6) 2 (12) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
GEOGRAPHY 47 10 (21) 6 (13) 8 (17) 11 (23) 5 (11) 4 (9) 2 (4) 1 (2) 94
GERMAN 2 2 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
HISTORY 40 10 (25) 4 (10) 8 (20) 14 (35) 4 (10) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
ICT 3 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
LATIN 10 5 (50) 1 (10) 0 (0) 1 (10) 2 (20) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (10) 90
MATHEMATICS (I) 75 10 (13) 9 (12) 14 (19) 13 (17) 14 (19) 15 (20) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
MUSIC 8 2 (25) 1 (13) 3 (38) 0 (0) 1 (13) 1 (13) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
PHYSICAL 13 2 (15) 2 (15) 6 (46) 1 (8) 2 (15) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 EDUCATION
PHYSICS 42 11 (26) 11 (26) 11 (26) 2 (5) 1 (2) 3 (7) 3 (7) 0 (0) 93
RUSSIAN 1 1 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
SCIENCE 52 4 (8) 7 (13) 7 (13) 8 (15) 13 (25) 13 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 (DOUBLE AWARD)
SPANISH 5 1 (20) 1 (20) 2 (40) 1 (20) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
We place significant trust in Merchiston when recommending it as an outstanding senior school option for boys. Former pupils who go on to Merchiston never fail to impress when they return to visit, either as senior school pupils or beyond school leaver age. Merchiston succeeds in stimulating, challenging and inspiring boys to achieve their potential and readies them for an ever-changing and increasingly complex world.
LIAM HARVEY Headmaster, St. Mary’s Melrose GCSE RESULTS (GRADES 9 – 1)
TOTAL PAPERS TAKEN 573 %
GRADE 9 136 24
GRADE 8 116 20
GRADE 7 114 20
GRADE 6 84 15
GRADE 5 65 11
GRADE 4 44 8
GRADE 3 9 2
GRADE 2 / 1 / U 5 1
GRADE 9 136 24
GRADES 9/8 252 44
GRADES 9/8/7 366 64
GRADES 9 – 4 (PASS RATE) 559 98
GCSE RESULTS 2011 – 2019
GCSE 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
PASS (A* - C) 98% 97% 95% 96% 98% 97% 94% 97% 93%
A* GRADES 28% 38% 30% 22% 37% 29% 36% 41% 35%
A GRADES 31% 27% 31% 35% 33% 30% 25% 25% 22%
A*, A + B GRADES 89% 90% 86% 83% 89% 86% 82% 66% 57%
NATIONAL 5 RESULTS (A–D)
SUBJECT NO. OF ENTRIES A (%) B (%) C (%) D (%) A – C %
FRENCH 6 3 (50) 2 (33) 1 (17) 0 (0) 100
MANDARIN 21 21 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
SPANISH 5 3 (50) 1 (25) 1 (25) 0 (0) 100
Merchiston provides an outstanding, progressive all-round education, supporting boys to achieve academically and to develop as people, fully preparing them to meet the challenges of being a young man in the twenty-first century and ready to contribute to the communities in which they live.
MRS KATE MARTIN Head, Mowden Hall School SCOTTISH QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY — HIGHER RESULTS
ADVANCED HIGHER RESULTS — UPPER SIXTH
NO PASS NO. OF SUBJECT A (%) B (%) C (%) D (%) AWARD RATE CANDIDATES (%) A – C (%)
MANDARIN SIMPLIFIED 3 3 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
MANDARIN TRADITIONAL 3 3 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
TOTAL PRESENTATIONS 6
PASS RATE (A – C) 100%
A GRADES 100%
HIGHER RESULTS — UPPER SIXTH
NO. OF NO PASS RATE SUBJECT A (%) B (%) C (%) D (%) CANDIDATES AWARD (%) A – C (%)
BIOLOGY 5 4 (80) 1 (20) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
CHEMISTRY 4 1 (25) 2 (50) 1 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
ECONOMICS 3 1 (33) 2 (67) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
ENGLISH 5 3 (60) 2 (40) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
GEOGRAPHY 8 4 (50) 3 (38) 0 (0) 1 (13) 0 (0) 88
HISTORY 3 2 (67) 1 (33) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
MATHEMATICS 5 2 (40) 3 (60) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
PE 2 1 (50) 1 (50) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
TOTAL PRESENTATIONS 35
PASS RATE (A – C) 97%
A GRADES 51%
B GRADES 43%
C GRADES 3%
HIGHERS 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
PASS (A-C) 90% 92% 87% 100% 100% 89% 79% 100% 95% 83% 97%
A AND B 70% 54% 60% 86% 90% 59% 46% 90% 79% 61% 94% GRADES
HIGHER RESULTS — LOWER SIXTH
NO. OF NO PASS RATE SUBJECT A (%) B (%) C (%) D (%) CANDIDATES AWARD (%) A – C (%)
HIGHER MANDARIN 9 9 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 SIMPLIFIED
HIGHER MANDARIN 7 7 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 TRADITIONAL
HIGHER MUSIC 1 1 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100
HIGHER SPANISH 1 1 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 100 A LEVEL RESULTS
YEAR NO. SITTING % A–B % PASS
2008 59 82 100
2009 74 80 100
SUBJECT NO. SITTING % A*–A % A*–B % PASS
2010 64 58 80 100
2011 80 63 84 100
2012 77 56 82 100
2013 82 51 81 100
2014 77 54 81 100
2015 82 40 77 100
2016 68 42 77 99
2017 79 47 74 89
2018 63 50 77 100
2019 73 40 73 99
2020 62 56 83 100
RUNNING AVERAGE 73 51 79 99 2010–2020
A LEVEL RESULTS
60 I would say how delighted I am with what Merchiston has done for my son
50 over his five years there. His academic results — A*A*A — were beyond his (and my) expectations and he now 40 goes off to Glasgow to study Politics as a well-rounded young man. Your
30 School will always have the strongest of recommendations from me. PERCENTAGE
20 PARENT
10
0 A* A B C D E
GRADES A LEVEL RESULTS
NO. OF PASS RATE SUBJECT A* (%) A (%) B (%) C (%) D (%) E (%) FAIL (%) CANDIDATES A* – E (%)
ART 2 0 (0) 2 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (100)
BIOLOGY 14 2 (14) 3 (21) 3 (21) 4 (36) 1 (7) 1 (7) 0 (0) 14 (100)
CHINESE 6 6 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 6 (100)
CLASSICAL 3 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (67) 1 (33) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (100) CIVILISATION
CHEMISTRY 12 2 (17) 3 (25) 6 (50) 0 (0) 1 (8) 0 (0) 0 (0) 12 (100)
COMPUTER 4 1 (25) 3 (75) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 4 (100) SCIENCE
DESIGN 4 0 (0) 1 (25) 2 (50) 1 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 4 (100) ENGINEERING
DESIGN 2 1 (50) 1 (50) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 2 (100) TECHNOLOGY
ECONOMICS 20 3 (15) 5 (25) 9 (45) 3 (15) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 20 (100)
ENGLISH 15 4 (27) 7 (47) 3 (20) 1 (7) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 15 (100) LITERATURE
FURTHER MATHS 7 3 (43) 2 (29) 1 (14) 1 (14) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 7 (100)
FRENCH 5 1 (20) 2 (40) 2 (40) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 5 (100)
GEOGRAPHY 10 2 (20) 2 (20) 5 (50) 1 (10) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 10 (100)
GOVERNMENT 8 1 (13) 3 (38) 2 (25) 2 (25) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 8 (100) & POLITICS
HISTORY 14 5 36) 4 (29) 3 (21) 2 (14) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 14 (100)
MATHEMATICS 26 8 (31) 8 (31) 5 (19) 4 (15) 1 (4) 0 (0) 0 (0) 26 (100)
PHYSICAL 7 0 (0) 2 (29) 3 (43) 2 (29) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 7 (100) EDUCATION
PHYSICS 11 2 (18) 4 (36) 1 (9) 3 (27) 1 (9) 0 (0) 0 (0) 11 (100)
RUSSIAN 3 3 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 3 (100)
SPANISH 1 0 (0) 1 (100) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 0 (0) 1 (100) TOTAL SUBJECTS TAKEN 174
GRADE A* 44 25%
GRADE A 53 30% GRADE A* 44 25%
GRADE B 47 27% GRADE A 53 30%
GRADE C 25 14% GRADE A* – A 97 56%
GRADE D 4 2% GRADE A* – B 144 83%
GRADE E 1 1% GRADE A* – E (OVERALL PASS) 174 100%
GRADE U 0 0
A LEVELS 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
PASS (A* - E) 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 99% 100% 100% 99% 100%
A* GRADES 21% 24% 21% 19% 18% 12% 12% 19% 21% 17% 25%
A GRADES 36% 39% 35% 33% 36% 28% 31% 28% 28% 21% 30%
A* – A GRADES 57% 63% 56% 51% 54% 40% 43% 47% 50% 38% 56%
A* – B GRADES 81% 84% 81% 81% 81% 76% 77% 74% 77% 71% 83%
A* – C GRADES 95% 95% 96% 94% 96% 92% 94% 89% 95% 89% 97%
*Including Advanced Higher: A* at A Level is equivalent to an A at Advanced Higher on the UCAS tariff.
I've been impressed with the way that Merchiston has maintained its all-boys status and remained an environment where boys can be both nurtured and challenged. You've shown yourselves capable of getting the best of a wide range of abilities and have developed some fine young men.
ROB TAYLOR Headmaster, Cargilfield MOVING ON
Many of this year’s leavers will be taking up places at top UK universities — the destinations are shown on the following pages. Some of these pupils will be taking time away from their academic studies to experience living and working overseas as part of their gap year. Their careers at Merchiston prepare them well as they embark on their future study; we equip them not just with the results they require to follow their chosen path, but also with essential life skills.
UNIVERSITY COURSES 2020
ACCOUNTING, BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND FINANCE
APPLIED SCIENCES
ARTS
ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
HUMANITIES
L AW
MEDICAL SCIENCES
SCIENCE
SOCIAL SCIENCES
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
Teachers in the Maths Department are not only flawless in teaching, but also good at being mentors! You all stunned me, as I had not come across any teacher like you in Hong Kong.
FORMER PUPIL UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS
1 DUNDEE University of Dundee (1) 18 BRISTOL University of the West of England (UWE) (1)
2 ST ANDREWS University of St Andrews (4) 19 LONDON University College London (UCL) (4) London School of Economics, 3 GLASGOW University of Glasgow (6) University of London (2) King’s College London (1) 4 ABERDEEN University of Aberdeen (4) Queen Mary University of London (1) 5 EDINBURGH University of Edinburgh (3), Brunel University London (1) Heriot-Watt University (2), University of the Arts London (1) Edinburgh Napier University (3), 20 EXETER University of Exeter (4) SRUC Scotland’s Rural College (1)
6 NEWCASTLE Newcastle University (1), 21 BELFAST Queen’s University Belfast (1) Northumbria University (2)
7 DURHAM Durham University (4)
8 BATH University of Bath (1)
9 SOUTHAMPTON University of Southampton (1)
10 LANCASTER Lancaster University (1)
11 SHEFFIELD University of Sheffield (2)
12 READING University of Reading (1) 45 13 LOUGHBOROUGH Loughborough University (1) 21
14 CIRENCESTER Royal Agricultural University (1) 32
43 15 BIRMINGHAM Aston University (1) 5
16 COVENTRY University of Warwick (1) 6 17 OXFORD University of Oxford (2) Oxford Brookes University (1) 7
2111
10
1211
1413
1513 1613
1617
1415 1921 2018 8 12
9 2023 PUPIL DESTINATIONS
SCOTLAND Total number going to University in Scotland 24 (36%)
RUSSELL GROUP & NO. OF NO. OF UNIVERSITIES ST ANDREWS UNIVERSITIES PUPILS PUPILS
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH 3 UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN 4
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW 6 UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE 1
UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS 4 EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY 3
HERIOT–WATT UNIVERSITY 2
SRUC SCOTLAND'S RURAL COLLEGE 1
REST OF THE UK Total number going to University in Rest of the UK 36 (54%)
NO. OF NO. OF RUSSELL GROUP AND BATH UNIVERSITIES UNIVERSITIES PUPILS PUPILS
UNIVERSITY OF BATH 1 ASTON UNIVERSITY 1
UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST OF DURHAM UNIVERSITY 4 1 ENGLAND, BRISTOL
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER 4 BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON 1
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON 1 LANCASTER UNIVERSITY 1
LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, 2 LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY 1 UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UCL) 4 UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS LONDON 1
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY 1 NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY 2
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD 2 OXFORD BROOKES UNIVERSITY 1
QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON 1 UNIVERSITY OF READING 1
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD 2 ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY 1
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON 1
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK 1
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY BELFAST 1
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS Total number going to International Institutions: 7 (10%) NO. OF UNIVERSITIES IN EUROPE AND AMERICA PUPILS UNIVERSITIES IN EUROPE AND AMERICA 7 (including Ivy League) NO. OF NO. OF OTHER OTHER PUPILS PUPILS
Number of pupils fulfilling offers 2 Percentage going to first choice university 79% to Oxford or Cambridge
Percentage of successful applicants going to UK Number of pupils gaining their second Russell Group Universities, Bath, St Andrews 67% 9 choice of university & leading international institutions
Number of university applications submitted 67 Percentage going to second choice university 13%
Number of pupils gaining their first choice of university 53 Number of pupils entering clearing and gaining a place 1
Percentage going to first or second choice of university 93%
10%
36%
37% 63%
54%
Scotland Russell Group of Universities
Rest of the UK Other UK Universities
Europe and America
RUSSELL GROUP OF UNIVERSITIES
UNIVERSITY OF BATH NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY
DURHAM UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY BELFAST
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
KING'S COLLEGE LONDON UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UCL) UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
Success doesn’t stop here: an average of 141 UCAS points (AAA being 144) bears testimony to high teaching standards. The majority, unsurprisingly, end up at the best universities in the UK, with a small number venturing across the Pond.
TATLER SCHOOLS GUIDE 2020 A BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL FOR BOYS AGED 7–18 Merchiston Castle School, Colinton Road, Edinburgh, EH13 0PU +44 (0) 131 312 2200 [email protected]
MERCHISTON.CO.UK
Charity number: SC016580