Edinburgh Merchant Company Education Board
Also known as: Erskine Stewart Melville (ESM)
- Country
- Scotland
- Charity number
- SC009747
- Status
- Active
- Reporting
- Up to date Last filed April 14, 2026. Filing history
- Registered
- Feb. 17, 1928
- Legal form
- Statutory corporation (Royal Charter etc)
Address
- Address
- The Merchant Hall
22 Hanover Street
Edinburgh
EH2 2EP
Contact
- Website
mcoe.org.uk
Activities
'It makes grants, donations, loans, gifts or pensions to individuals','It carries out activities or services itself'
'the advancement of education','the advancement of citizenship or community development','the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture or science','the advancement of public participation in sport','the advancement of environmental protection or improvement','the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage'
The Edinburgh Merchant Company Education Board (the “Education Board”) is responsible for The Mary Erskine School and Stewart’s Melville College, including their combined Junior School, (Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools or ESMS) and George Watson’s College (GWC) (the “Schools”). The Merchant Company Education Board endowments are held and administered for the purposes of the provision of education at the Edinburgh Merchant Company schools, their maintenance and management and the provision of means tested financial assistance to a proportion of their pupils. The main activity undertaken continues to be the provision of education to children and young people from the ages of 3-18 through our Schools. The Schools offer sector-leading, rounded education, with a broad curriculum, strong academic results, comprehensive pastoral care and a varied and extensive range of co-curricular activities. This all-round approach gives every student the opportunity to excel.
Beneficiaries: 'Children or young people'
Objectives: The Education Board?s Charitable Purposes are: (a) the advancement of education, particularly the education and advancement of children and young people. (b) the advancement of the arts, heritage, culture and science. (c) the advancement of public participation in sport. (d) the provision of recreational facilities, or the organisation of recreational activities, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the persons for whom the facilities or activities are primarily intended. and (e) the advancement of citizenship or community development.
Geography
- Main operating location
- City of Edinburgh
- Geographical spread
- More than one local authority area in Scotland
Finances
| Period end | Filed | Income | Expenditure | Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 31, 2025 | April 14, 2026On time | £83,053,812 | £82,581,899 | 1,105 |
| July 31, 2024 | April 30, 2025On time | £84,994,162 | £86,252,978 | 1,120 |
| July 31, 2023 | June 24, 202455 days late | £76,933,963 | £77,264,697 | 1,119 |
| July 31, 2022 | May 16, 202316 days late | £69,711,680 | £69,448,688 | 1,011 |
| July 31, 2021 | Nov. 21, 2022205 days late | £65,808,209 | £65,747,948 | 979 |
Due dates are 9 months after the year end, OSCR's deadline, so they don't allow for any extension OSCR has granted.
Linked charities
- George Watson's Family Foundation (SC004818)