The Don Mercer Exchange offers two S4 pupils (one boy and one girl) the opportunity to spend three weeks living in Melbourne, Australia. This exchange is offered at minimum cost to parents/carers due to generous endowment by former pupil Mr Don Mercer  (class of 1959). 

The successful applicants will spend approximately three weeks as an exchange pupil at either Scotch College or Presbyterian Ladies’ College in Melbourne, Australia. Scotch College and Presbyterian Ladies’ College are boys’ and girls’ schools respectively. Both are amongst Australia’s leading independent schools with a huge range of subjects and extra-curricular opportunities. 

Melbourne is one of Australia’s most attractive cities with a very active cultural and sporting life. Like Edinburgh, it is renowned for the quality of its independent schools.

The outward part of the exchange takes place after S4 exams during the summer holidays. Two pupils from Melbourne will then visit George Watson’s College in September/October .

The cost to families is £250 (including flights and accommodation) and this money is added to the Don Mercer fund to allow this opportunity to continue for future pupils. This sum will be automatically discounted pro rata for pupils benefiting from Foundation Places.

Applications for the exchange in 2025 will close on 10 January 2025 with interviews due to take place the following prelims. 

Some pictures from Freya and Jamie (S5) after their trip to Melbourne as part of the exchange in July 2023. Their exchange partners, Sophie and Arjun, visited Scotland in September 2023.