Madras College, founded in 1833, takes its name from the system of education devised by the school's founder, the Rev.

Because there was a shortage of teachers, he used the older students, who had been taught the lesson by the master, to instruct groups of younger pupils.

After his return from India, Dr Bell made it his life's work to travel the country and encourage schools to adopt 'the Madras system', as it had come to be known.

Madras College was founded in 1832 at the bequest and expense of Bell, as the amalgamation of several St Andrews schools.

The second amalgamation happened in 1963, when Madras College was merged with the Burgh School (founded 1889, based in Abbey Walk).

In 2021 the school moved into a new building in Bell Brae, north-west of town, built at a cost of £50 million.