St Leonards Delegates Attend George Watson’s College Model United Nations Conference

12 September 2026

Our Model United Nations (MUN) delegates travelled to Edinburgh on Saturday, 12 September, joining pupils from schools including Loretto, Gordonstoun and Lomond for a programme of debate and discussion.Committees covered a range of international issues, including the Security Council, Human Rights and Women’s Rights, while guest speakers included MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton.

Among those attending was Year 12 pupil Alice H, who returned to George Watson’s College for her second conference, having made her MUN debut at the same event last year.

“Coming back this year, I found that from the past year of MUN, I was able to feel the true sense of community that MUN fosters across Scotland, whether it was recalling last year’s conference with the chairs or seeing a friendly face.”

Alice represented a delegation in the historical committee, where pupils explored international issues from the perspective of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Her contributions to the discussions earned her a commendation.

Reflecting on what she has gained from MUN, Alice also encouraged other pupils to consider taking part:

“I would vehemently encourage any pupils aspiring to study degrees in Politics, PPE, Economics, and Law to join MUN but even careers in STEM and in medical fields, due to the relation that global politics has over almost every domain you can think of.”

For returning delegates and those attending their first conference, the event was another chance to take part in discussions with pupils from other schools and gain experience in research, diplomacy and public speaking.

About Model United Nations

Model United Nations is a popular part of our co-curricular programme, giving pupils the chance to take on the roles of UN delegates, research international issues and debate possible solutions. It encourages critical thinking, leadership and public speaking, while introducing pupils to different perspectives and the importance of diplomacy and collaboration.

These are skills and experiences that complement an IB education. MUN also gives pupils across different year groups the chance to work collaboratively, while conferences provide opportunities to meet delegates from other schools and participate in a wider international MUN community.

Earlier this year, St Leonards hosted its second Model United Nations Conference, welcoming delegates from 14 schools across Scotland and England, as well as international schools in Copenhagen and Prague.