Our move to co-education from 2026 Find out more
The Mary Erskine School sits in leafy grounds in the heart of Edinburgh. Our dedicated, passionate staff work alongside the girls supporting, challenging and championing them so that they thrive.
Our teachers are some of the best in their field. Their passion inspires a lifelong love of learning amongst our pupils and encourages them to explore what’s on the curriculum and beyond.
We have a traditional curriculum that provides our pupils with a rounded education and the core knowledge, skills, experience and vocabulary they will need to excel in life and navigate the world in which they live. A culture of innovation runs through the school inspiring teachers and pupils to think differently and creatively.
Academically our results are strong, with 77.8% of all S5 entries at Higher achieving an A Grade, enabling S6 girls to go to a vast range of different universities, to study an interesting mix of subjects from law and accountancy, to zoology, nursing, fashion and film, to name but a few.
We build close relationships so that all our pupils are known, nurtured and supported. We value individuality and take the time to understand how to uncover their true potential, in whatever area of school life that may be. We also have a strong and committed guidance team who help pupils to find their voice and develop a true sense of identity.
We are proud of our drive to champion diversity and ensure everyone is recognised and included in school life. A Rainbow flag flies over our grounds and we are proud to hold a Gold LGBTQ+ Award.
We stay ahead of the issues girls face and involve them in the support we provide. Guidance leaders are promoted members of staff who know the pupils as individuals and work closely as a group and with parents to ensure their wellbeing, ensuring our School is a kind, supportive and happy place to be.
Extra-curricular activities are the norm for our pupils. Our culture encourages pupils to have a go at every aspect of school life, challenging them and helping them to discover what they are capable of. From an eight-day, unplugged adventure in the Scottish Highlands and performing at The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, to our partnership with our sister school in Malawi and representing the UK in the European Youth Parliament, the breadth of what we offer is vast and exciting.
With over 90 sports teams and clubs there is something for everyone and the culture of the school ensures that they don’t limit themselves to the ones that play to their natural talents. These clubs run alongside the more traditional options such as CCF, Youth Philanthropy Initiative and Duke of Edinburgh. Our Outdoor Learning programme inspires a sense of adventure in our pupils, and provides them with key problem-solving skills, along with emotional and creative intelligence, which they take with them long after their school career has finished.
We make sure our pupils leave school as confident, ambitious, and kind individuals, keen to make a positive impact on the world around them.
We are a close-knit community and our pupils forge friendships at The Mary Erskine School that last a lifetime. Our strong links with Stewart Melville’s College ensures our girls share a range of activities with our boys’ school including orchestras, trips and performing arts. The strong bonds they form prepare them for a joint Sixth Form education and the world beyond.
Our teachers’ support for their pupils also goes on long after they’ve left, and we love welcoming our Former Pupils back from time to time, hearing all about their adventures and the extraordinary things they have gone on to achieve.
