Schools around Edinburgh

Education is devolved in Scotland, so whilst Scotland is part of the UK, the education system is completely different.

My foster son is at Linlithgow, and my main gripe is that they don't stream. He has special needs and I really don't think this is doing him any favours. If you really want to move somewhere in the uk with good free education go to Belfast. Really excellent grammar schools that do better than the fee paying schools and a much higher standard of living all round. Have a look at Methodist COllege Belfast, Campbell College, Belfast Royal Academy and Grosvenor. All have excellent facilities, proper school uniform and good discipline. And Belfast itself is a very friendly place to live.

scotland,england two distinct countries educationally
scotland
No state selective or grammar school
highers 1 yr
Hons degree 4yr
free scottish uni degree if ordinarily resident and meet conditions

england
state grammar
A level 2yr
3 yr hons degree
fees for students.no free education

Actually, I'm going to be controversial too, and say that I think you'd be doing your son a huge disservice to come to a new country, with a completely different education system at a really crucial time in his school life.

You talk about Britain and Scotland as if they are two distinct countries. Do you know that Scotland is part of GB?

If he's following the English curriculum and doing A levels, why can't he continue to do that?

I'm not usually so blunt and rude on MN, but it sounds like you have a half-arsed plan that you've not researched, and the person who will be harmed by this will be your son.

haven't read all the posts, but going to say something controversial- if you can afford it go private. my foster son is at what is known to be a really good state school in west lothian, however, I still wouldn't rave about it!

there are time tariffs and rules,dont just rock up and live in scotland or say hoots mon aye im scottish.and hey presto free uni

Yes, but you have to have been ordinarily resident in Scotland for either 3 or 5 years before the course starts.

Where are you currently?

If you live in Scotland, you are treated as a Scottish student for funding. This is the case even if you are English. The term used is 'ordinarily resident', which you are if your family move to Scotland.

have you actually sorted
accommodation
school place
school starts next week

Maybe I'm missing something, but if your son is 15 now (16 in Jan) that would put him in S5 (Highers) this year. If you're wanting to move next year, he would technically be going into S6 unless you keep him back a year.

Be aware that the curriculum is different so he may not have covered the right topics in his GCSEs to be able to do the equivalent Higher - for example, in History.

I think - and no doubt someone will tell me if I'm wrong! - that he'd also be counted as an overseas student if he then went to a Scottish uni, which would mean that you'd have to pay fees - semi-reasonable if you're from the EU, extortionate if you're not.

we love NBerwick we rent house there.

basically,any good school will be oversubscribed,and that elevates price of rent/buying

and thats the rub to secure a good school you buy or rent in tiny catchment or polish pews and do some god bothering.and thats replicated across all councils

The thing is, people can say 'oo go to Linlithgow' but Linlithgow is an attractive middle class place and house prices (rent too) are more expensive that most other areas.

I'm surprised no one's mentioned North Berwick. But that is another pretty town with very high house prices.

You need to visit places and schools yourself as there are very good schools which are not in the top-drawer towns. I don't find differences so huge between high schools in the Lothians (mid, east, west).

i have scottish Highers and attended both scottish Universities and english universities. have never been disadvantaged having scottish H

English universities accept Scottish qualifications. There is no problem at all. Standard grades are equivalent to gcses, highers are equivalent to AS levels, and advanced highers are equivalent to A-levels. English university staff dealing with admissions know and understand this.

There are also very good universities in Scotland.

if you'll have been in scotland for three years by the time he goes to uni then it is worth staying here for the free university!

i prefer the scottish education system myself which is more broad and less specialist than the english.

if your aim is for him to get into an english univeristy then perhaps A levels are the best bet, but most english universities are very open to good scottish qualifications... and of course some scottish univerisities are world-class too.

boroughmuir - renting near here will be quite expensive, it's quite far into central ediburgh, but it is a good school

balerno & currie are even more expensive areas.... on the outskirts of edinburgh and wonderful for commuting into the city so very very popular - sorry.

'Are children at a disadvantage if they finish Scottish schools (highers/advanced highers) and apply for a university in England?'

No, but people tend to go to university in Scotland, it's free for starters.

In my opinion once you're not looking at Edinburgh itself, some schools have better reputations than others, but because they're not in a city and have a varied catchment, most are alright anyway.

Thirded for Linlithgow.

The reason kids don't seem to be disadvantaged in Scotland is because, on the whole, the majority go on to Scottish universities. Controversial but the A'level is the safest bet and many of the Scottish private schools offer A'levels instead of highers. England is also much more ethnically diverse than Scotland. Children in Scotland do one less year at school than in England.

I am Scottish but have opted for the English system as I believe it to be better and it is more transferable worldwide.

Linlithgow is certainly good - DS has just left there. But be careful where you look at houses "nearby" as they are unlikely to have places for pupils out of catchment. The council should be able to tell you what areas are in catchment even though the school office is shut.

Are you clear about the differences between Scottish and English systems? There are similarities but also big differences, and it's worth making sure you really understand those before you commit to Scotland, unless you have other reasons why you have decided on that rather than England, as he will be changing to a different system to what his current school does. (You can bet that "British" = English. If it was Scottish, they would say so clearly)

If he has been following the British system then he is following the English system not the Scottish system. It would be better to put him into an English grammar school unless you have to move to Scotland.

no selective (grammar schools) in scotland.some schools retain historical name of Grammar School.but selective state grammar abolished in scotland

schools start back next week,if you are starting son you have a few days before school start...

where are you planning to live.have you got place sorted.