The Mary Erskine School
| The Mary Erskine School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
Ravelston , EH4 3NG Scotland | |
| Information | |
| Type | Private day and boarding school |
| Motto | Mitis et fortis |
| Established | 1694 (as Merchant Maiden Hospital) |
| Principal | Kirsty Nicholson |
| Gender | Girls |
| Age | 12 to 18 |
| Enrolment | 758 (approx.) |
| Annual tuition | Day pupil £19,478
Full time boarding £26,163 Weekly boarding £25,509 |
| Website | https://www.erskinestewartmelville.com/ |
The Mary Erskine School (MES) is an all-girls private day school in Edinburgh, Scotland.
It was founded in 1694 and has a roll of around 670 pupils. The majority of its pupils live in the surrounding area (Edinburgh, Lothian and Fife). Boarding facilities were available in the past but the boarding school was closed in 2025. The school is non-denominational but claims to have a broadly Christian outlook.
Managed by the Merchant Company of Edinburgh, Mary Erskine's is twinned with Stewart's Melville College (SMC), an all-boys' independent school in Comely Bank, Edinburgh. The combined Erskine Stewart's Melville Schools (ESMS) share a co-educational Sixth Year and Junior School, split between the school's two campuses, which cater for pupils between 17-18 and 3-12 years old, respectively. In 2014 the combined Erskine Stewarts Melville school claimed to be the largest independent school in Europe. Many sports, performing arts, and extra-curricular activities are run jointly.
From 2026-27 academic year, the schools will merge to form the co-educational Erskine Stewart Melville.