Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh has announced an agreement with adolescent mental health specialists, The Anchor Practice to strengthen wellbeing across the school community.

The initial 12-month arrangement will see experienced therapists from The Anchor Practice delivering in-school, no-cost access to professional therapy and assessment services for pupils, while also supporting and upskilling key staff.

From the start of the new academic year, child psychotherapist, Dr Juraj Kralik, will provide weekly in-school psychotherapy and assessment. Kralik has experience working with young people and their families, having worked in various educational settings, including early-year centres and a secondary educational and behavioural difficulties school.

He will be supported by regular fortnightly sessions from consultant psychotherapist and clinical director of The Anchor Practice, Paul Bell.

As part of the partnership, drop-in sessions for staff and parents will be introduced to complement ongoing weekly reflective practice training delivered by Bell for members of the school’s pastoral and pupil support teams.

Bell said: “This partnership reflects an understanding that mental health care belongs at the centre of school life. With access to therapy normalised, not stigmatised, we can help create resilient environments where young people are empowered to seek support without hesitation.”

Danny Rowlands, deputy head of wellbeing at the school, said: “At Merchiston, the wellbeing of our pupils isn’t an add-on, it’s a foundation for everything we do.

“When young people face personal challenges, we want to ensure they have immediate access to high-quality, professional support that equips them with lifelong tools for self-awareness and resilience.”