MESSENGER
SPRING 2010
MESSENGER
JANUARY 2010
ACADEMIC
HARVEY HUB
The new Harvey Hub, is an exciting initiative for the School and will provide a much used facility for many activities. The Faculty of Support for Learning encompasses Stretching the Able, English as a Second Language (ESOL) and Support for Learning, and gathers information about other aspects of a pupil’s life, such as medical and pastoral, to help to ensure that pupils are working to their potential.
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Drop-in sessions for boys in the Middle and Senior Schools will take place in Harvey Hub, while Pringle boys will still have drop-ins in Pringle House.
OUTSTANDING A LEVEL SUCCESS
Last year’s A Level results were the best of any Scottish School offering this qualification. Merchiston’s A Level pass rate was 100%. Moreover, of the 208 individual candidate results, 101 (49%) gained an A grade; the School’s combined A and B grade pass rate was a highly gratifying 80%. Of our 75 applicants and re-applicants, 87% gained grades which enabled them to take up offers at their first choice of university course; 98% of applicants secured their offers from either their first or second choice courses. Five Merchiston pupils secured places at Oxford or Cambridge Universities in subjects as diverse as Engineering, English Literature, Spanish, Theology, and Natural Sciences.
TOP OF THE BENCH CHEMISTRY COMPETITION
Following on from victories in 2003, 2004 and 2007, a team of four
pupils have won the regional heats in the ‘Top of the Bench’ Chemistry
Competition. The heats were for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region with 21 schools competing. The four pupils are Jamie in the
Fourth Form, Johnny and Joe in the Shell and Duncan in the Fifth Form. The boys had to answer individual questions appropriate to their age and also work on problems requiring teamwork. The team will now go through to the UK national final in April. Jamie commented: “As a team, we work together well and play to our strengths; we also
tested each other prior to the competition. I am proud of my school and would like to see us win the competition!”
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