Merchiston International School Explained

Merchiston International School
Native Name:深圳曼彻斯通城堡学校
Coordinates:22.7055°N 113.9821°W
Type:Private boarding and day school
Head Label:Headmaster
Head:Chris Lynn[1]
Address:No.12 Shilongzai Road, Dalang Sub-District, Longhua District,
Country:China
Staff:66 (approx) full and part time
Gender:Boys and girls
Lower Age:4
Upper Age:18
Fees:£20,539-£37,257 per year[2]
Houses:Pringle
Chalmers
Rogerson
Colours:Navy, red & white
Motto:Ready Ay Ready
Language:English, Mandarin

Merchiston International School is an independent boarding school for boys and girls in the Longhua District in Shenzhen, China. It is open to students aged 4 to 18 as either boarding or day students, though the senior school is only for boarding students; it was modelled after English public schools. It is affiliated with, and is the first overseas campus for Merchiston Castle School, in Edinburgh, Scotland.[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Background

In 1828 Charles Chalmers started a small school in Park Place, Edinburgh, Scotland on a site now occupied by the McEwan Hall. In May 1833, Charles Chalmers took a lease of Merchiston Castle (the former home of John Napier, the inventor of logarithms) — which at that time stood in rural surroundings — and moved the school. It is from here that the school name is derived.[9]

Merchiston Castle School developed Merchiston International School after a year of collaboration with Chinese investor Lyu Jianjun, whose son attended the boarding school in Edinburgh.[3] [10] In 2016, Shenzhen Merchiston International Education Co. Ltd. was founded,[11] and in August 2018, Merchiston International School opened its doors to pupils as the first school in Longhua District, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China.[12] On October 15, 2018, the school held its opening ceremony. The event attracted almost 1,000 attendees, including the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Frank Ross.[5] [13]

The school offers student living arrangements along with a British education. The school can cater to 1,200 students aged 4–18.[14] Lessons are taught in English and pupils from grades 1 to 9 follow the English national curriculum, with additional access to Mandarin language learning. Senior students study for the IGCSE and A-levels. With accommodations for 600, the senior school is exclusively for boarding students. 80 percent of the teaching staff are from the United Kingdom.[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shenzhen Merchiston Castle School . Shenzhen Municipal Government . 7 December 2020 . zh.
  2. Web site: Current Fees . Merchiston International School . 30 November 2020 . en.
  3. News: Scottish private boarding school unveils Chinese expansion. Glasgow, Scotland. . Andrew Denholm. 21 November 2017. 15 November 2020.
  4. Web site: Merchiston International School, Shenzhen . NowShenzhen . 30 November 2020 . en.
  5. News: Zhang Qian . Lily Li. Merchiston Intl. School opens in SZ . . Shenzhen, China . 16 October 2018 . en.
  6. News: Nicola Woolcock. More private schools rush to open branches abroad . The Times . London, UK . 1 October 2018 . en.
  7. News: Sian Griffiths . Private schools lure state maths teachers to foreign offshoots . The Times . London, UK . 16 September 2018 . en.
  8. Scots in China . Scots in China . 14 January 2019 . BBC Two Scotland . 1 . 2 . Oliver. Neil (host).
  9. Web site: History & Traditions . Merchiston Castle School . 30 November 2020 . en.
  10. News: 楼婍沁 . Is the parent's beloved son looking for an "international school"? [父母之爱子,则为之谋"国际学校"]? ]. Interface News [界面新闻] . Shanghai, China . 22 March 2019 . zh.
  11. Web site: Merchiston International Limited . Companies House . 30 November 2020 . en.
  12. News: Bo Leung. 15 August 2018. Scottish school opens branch in Shenzhen. China Daily.
  13. News: University of Edinburgh firm set to open hospital in China . Ian Swanson . Edinburgh Evening News. Edinburgh, Scotland . 9 October 2018 . en.
  14. News: Hong Kong schools less popular with Chinese parents in Shenzhen . Phoebe Zhang . South China Morning Post . Hong Kong . 10 November 2019 . en.