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Forthill or Barnhill primaries Broughty Ferry?

4 replies

CathyNoodles · 23/01/2018 11:42

Hi, We are moving to Broughty Ferry and are getting a house in the catchment of Eastern Primary but they have no spaces for my son's year, so we've been told we'll likely get a choice between Forthill or Barnhill primaries. I wonder if anyone has any view on which is a better school - I have a perhaps slightly sensitive child of 6 who's been in a very small school where we are moving from - I heard Forthill is much bigger that Barnhill so may be a bit overwhelming... Any advice would be great! Thanks!

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SheSparkles · 23/01/2018 11:51

My children both went through Forthill, and I went to Barnhill (just a couple of years ago 😂)
I think that Forthill has grown way too big- I think there are over 700 on the roll now, when my dd started there, it was under 400! It was getting huge just as my ds was in P7, and it was getting unmanageable for the management team. HOWEVER, there has been a change of head teacher, who is a good bit younger and further from retirement than the last 3, so I believe things have improved in that respect.
For primary school though, if I was choosing, I’d be inclined to go for Barnhill, purely because of the lower numbers-I don’t think bigger is better at primary level.
And welcome to the Ferry!😊

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CathyNoodles · 23/01/2018 12:00

Thanks so much for your quick answer! I was tending towards Barnhill. There is also the possibility of appealing the decision on the place in Eastern Primary - not sure if that would be worth it. Anyone know if Eastern is meant to be particularly good?

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SheSparkles · 23/01/2018 12:18

All 3 are pretty much equalId have been happy to have my kids at any of the 3, we just happen to live in Forthill catchment, and I still feel the same way. I guess your appealing depends on convenience- is there the potential for your child to be able to walk home from Eastern, but not Barnhill? Do you know if there are many children local to your new house who go to Eastern? That’s the kind of thing that would sway my decision to appeal, ironically the life outside school!

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CathyNoodles · 23/01/2018 14:38

Good points - which I hadn't thought of! I'll do some more research and could visit each school too. Thanks!