The story of ESMS is in fact the history of three separate institutions. In 1694, the Scottish businesswoman and philanthropist Mary Erskine founded the girls' school that would bear her name.  Melville College was founded in 1832 and Daniel Stewart's College in 1855.  The three institutions formally united in the 1970s and by the turn of the 21st century they had developed into the largest family of independent schools in Europe.

Find out more about our schools’ unique histories by viewing our History Timeline below or browsing our Digital Archives.