Education and Learning

Our Educational Philosophy and Exam Results

Our philosophy is to encourage pupils to discover and develop their natural talents while also instilling the belief that with hard work and commitment they will fulfil their potential.

A Broad Curriculum

Stewart's Melville College follows the Scottish curriculum which is respected throughout the UK and internationally.  We offer a wide range of subjects and all boys are encouraged to maintain a broad range of subjects right up to National 5.

We keep our timetabling flexible so that we can offer a wide range of subject combinations, enabling pupils to continue with the subjects that they enjoy.  As they move up through the school they start to specialise, focusing on the areas which reflect their personal skills and passions.

A Traditional Curriculum with Innovative Teaching Methods

Our teachers at Stewart's Melville College are passionate about the subjects they teach and classes are interactive and fun. A culture of innovation runs through the school, blending our traditional curriculum with innovative teaching to make classes interactive and fun and inspiring pupils to think differently and creatively. We are proud to be the first independent school in Scotland to be named as a Microsoft Global Showcase School. This makes us part of a leading group of schools recognised for innovation in teaching and learning and preparing students for the future. 

At ESMS, children are taught together in the Junior School to help them develop positive relationships with the opposite sex. Boys then move into a single sex setting in the early years of secondary school where they enjoy inspirational leadership and competition and flourish in environments where only their best is good enough. Our strong values inspire the boys to become compassionate and caring young men. The boys continue to take part in co-educational extra-curricular activities throughout these years, building strong relationships with our sister school, The Mary Erskine School, and at Sixth Form they return to a co-educational learning environment to prepare them for life beyond school.

2023 Exam Results 

Our outcomes speak for themselves with strong results every year across the curriculum.

ESMS students go on to study in universities all over the UK and across the world. Recent pupils’ destinations include Glasgow, University College London, London School of Economics, Cambridge and Harvard.

Pupils are also encouraged to embrace opportunities to excel beyond the curriculum. We provide an extensive programme of trips and learning activities outside the classroom, guest speakers and opportunities to enter national and international competitions. In recent years this has included performing in the Edinburgh Tattoo, foreign language work experience and a talk by political scientist Sir John Curtice.