This year ESMS has been honoured to receive several awards, recognising achievements in STEM, innovation, sports, technology and the hard work of our students.
STEM Nation Award from Education Scotland
The Mary Erskine School, has been awarded the full STEM Nation Award by Education Scotland. This recognition celebrates our exceptional work in promoting and developing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. In order to achieve this accolade our teachers, led by Dr Fiona Neave, had to demonstrate leadership across five key areas: STEM family and community learning, employability and partnerships, the STEM curriculum and learner pathways, and equity and equality in STEM.
Our commitment to engaging parents and families in STEM learning, alongside strong partnerships working to enhance the curriculum, was praised by Education Scotland. This award recognises our dedication to ensuring that every student has access to inspiring, high-quality STEM experiences that open doors to future opportunities.
Centre of Excellence Status from the Leadership Skills Foundation
The Mary Erskine School (MES) has been awarded Centre of Excellence status by the Leadership Skills Foundation for 2024/25. This prestigious recognition celebrates the outstanding impact of the School’s Sports Leadership programme, where senior students work with children from both ESMS and the wider community to deliver engaging, inclusive sports activities. More on that award here.
Top 20 all-girls Cricket Schools
They say good things come in threes - The Mary Erskine School has secured a spot among the UK’s top 20 all-girls cricket schools in The Cricketer Schools Guide 2025. The Mary Erskine School stood out from a large number of entrants, earning recognition for its facilities, fixtures, coaching and commitment to cricket in the curriculum. This is the fourth year running that the School has been included in the prestigious list, and the sport is continuing to go from strength to strength.
Junior School Reading Schools Accreditation
Our Junior School has been awarded the Reading Schools Accreditation by the Scottish Book Trust. This recognition highlights the incredible reading environment our teachers have created for our children, helping them to foster a love of reading and developing literacy skills from a young age. Through creative and engaging approaches, our staff have made reading a central part of school life, ensuring that students have access to a wide range of books and are inspired to explore the joy of literature, both in and out of the classroom.
Carnegie Mental Health Award at Gold Level
All three schools have been awarded the Gold standard for their approach to mental health. This award, delivered by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools, recognises our outstanding mental health and wellbeing provision. Notable initiatives, such as the Junior School's use of VR headsets to support neurodivergent students and our Smart Student Council programme, were praised by the awards body, along with our whole-school culture towards mental health. We look forward to building on our wellbeing provision, always keeping our students and families at the heart of it.
Rights Respecting Schools Bronze Award
In June, ESMS achieved the Bronze Award: Rights Committed as part of the Right Respecting Schools programme. This term, we have been working towards our Silver accreditation: Rights Aware. This involves ensuring that all members of our school community are aware of the UNCRC and children's rights.
Independent Schools of the Year 2024 – Rising Star Award
We are incredibly proud to announce that Lewis Swire, a 2024 leaver, has won the prestigious ‘Rising Star of the Year’ award at the Independent Schools of the Year 2024 ceremony. Lewis, who is currently studying ballet at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, made an indelible impact during his time at Stewart’s Melville College.
In addition to excelling in academics and the arts, Lewis founded The Curious Times newspaper, co-founded the Global Young Entrepreneur Society, and served on the Youth Advisory Board of Childnet International. His accomplishments, ambition, and leadership have been recognised on a national stage, and we could not be more delighted to see his hard work and that of his supportive teachers celebrated.
Shortlisted for Best Use of Education Technology Award
While we did not win, we are very proud that we were also shortlisted for the Independent School of the Year ‘Best Use of Education Technology’ award. Our Digital and Support for Learning teams were recognised for their innovative approaches to integrating technology into the classroom to enhance the learning experience for all students.
Microsoft Global Showcase School Renewal
We have been chosen once again as a Microsoft Global Showcase School! Our Head of e-Learning, Mr Simon Luxford-Moore, along with the Digital and Support for Learning teams, are leading the way in incorporating innovative learning technologies in our classrooms and sharing their expertise with other schools.
These awards are a reflection of our school’s ongoing dedication to providing our students with a rich and dynamic education, equipping them with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in the future. Congratulations to all students, staff, and partners who contributed to these achievements.
