Pulling kid out of private to go to (poor performing) state secondary

[Caplin]

Ok, I know it has been done many times.

We live in a relatively new build in an ‘up and coming’ area in Edinburgh. Our primary catchment school was of the worst in the city, so we decided to put the kids into private primary, but it is killing us.

We had already decided to pull them out for high school as the school was doing ok, but in the latest tables our catchment high school is in the bottom five performing in the city. Now I am panicking as eldest goes next year. Only 26% of kids got 5 highers.

Even before corona virus we knew we couldn’t afford private for high school. So do we risk it, or do we try and move? Looking around that means doubling our mortgage for a smaller house that needs fully refurbed. With corona virus, we might be even more screwed trying to sell our house 🥺

To be clear, I have no issue sending them to a state school, in fact it would probably be better for my eldest as she doesn’t do well with academic pressure, but I do have an issue sending them to a school that is crap. I can easily live with middle of the table, but this is just so poor performing.

There is probably a sweet spot in terms of having less trouble with teenagers, not so much money and privilege that they can buy themselves into trouble and not so little that they are stuck in chaotic lives with little encouragement and cant see their way out. The big difference I think in private is the contacts for such things as work experience in "naice" careers and the same when it comes to jobs. That can also happen and work well in trades if DC are interested when they have parents/relatives in the trade.

So, for me a proper comprehensive school with DC from all backgrounds or a school in a more affluent area are probably your best bets for less class disruption and friendship options.

I agree with @StatisticallyChallenged if I was making the move back to state I’d do it now if floras/sb etc have a place - notice periods are short, and it gives a little time to form friendships to take forward.

I agree. Flora’s isn’t far and they do get a lot of drop off in upper years. Moving sooner rather than later would help transition. An out of catchment application to floras over granton might be more possible than one to RH.

Give the council a ring.

According to the charts which came from the council website, there are very few primaries with space issues overal, it obviously doesn't necessarily mean that they will have spaces in the year you need, but looks like it's worth asking, if you don't want morningside or kirklison anyway, or are looking for a lower age primary space when they know they will have issues further up the school.

I'd contact Floras and Stockbridge directly - although they're closed I think their admin/HT are still working from home. They'll be able to tell you if they have spaces available.

If you are certain you'll be able to move in to a different catchment - perhaps Royal High - then I'd look at doing the same for its feeder primaries so that your eldest especially gets a year to make some friends before high school. The last year of primary has a lot of transition events too which would make it easier - and easier to not be involved in the ones at ESMS knowing they won't be going.

The stats about the highers are useless. Don't use that as the basis for your decision. My son goes to what was until recently the worst high school in Scotland (fights and things stopped by the police).

Check out the HMIE reports (not ofsted, pretty sure they don't operate in Scotland)

The higher stats are just so ineffectual it's silly.

What will be harder is going from a private primary to a state secondary. Which is the school? I live near to Edinburgh and can give you my thoughts.

Can everyone stop talking about Ofsted and other things that don’t apply in Scotland like May half term? It’s so annoying! OP I’m in Edinburgh. Kids are at private school but have family experience of other schools. Happy to PM. Agree that Gillrspie’s HS is verrrrrry overrated.

Broughton? I thought you were talking about Castlebrae or the WHEC. Broughton is a good school. With some great feeder primaries.

Check out the social media pages of Broughton HS to get a feel for them. My son's high school has over 70 twitter accounts so it can be a good way to get to know them virtually.

OP, I'm in Edinburgh too. I can do some digging if you want to private message me the name of the school. No problem if not and good luck.

Oh, I've just seen it's Broughton. I know it very well. And have extremely close links to both Flora's and Stockbridge Primary. I wouldn't want to say in which capacity on here though!

Broughton is situated in an extremely affluent area, but its catchment is HUGE. It has some of Edinburgh's most privileged kids, and some of the most deprived.
Most kids I know you've been there have done really well. I've known some kids to go there from well-off households, and thought they might be lambs to the slaughter. Wrong!
It really is what you make it. The opportunities are there, and the school is incredibly well-resourced. It's also very popular indeed, so unless in catchment, you won't get in. Every year, the placement requests exceed the number of places available.
If your child can make it in Broughton, they can make it anywhere. And it is not a failing school.
My eldest went to the private school yours are at. Both the girls' and boys' schools have more than their fair share of arrogant, entitled kids. But the behaviour as a whole is better.

Posh kids doing recreational drugs for fun is not the same as children known to social services who have experienced significant trauma using drugs as a coping mechanism and taking more and more risks.

You're missing my point: your assumption is posh kids are ok and safe by dint of being posh. What a dangerous belief to hold.

Drugs are everywhere. SMC expelled a couple of boys just for smoking cannabis at the weekend... this was a few years back and seriously made us question our son being there and he was only in nursery at the time. Not because we are anti-drugs but the thought of him being expelled just for experimenting at the weekends when he’s in senior school, well, it felt a bit ott. A friend of mine was desperate to get her child into Broughton last year - their catchment high is Trinity Academy and she was seriously worried about her going there and apparently Broughton High is much more desirable. Who knew?! I haven’t read every response but as far as I’m aware it is not easy to get a bursary at ESMS. If you are going to pull your children out of ESMS you should do it sooner rather than later. P7 is all about the big move and it would be difficult being there and then not.

Move house. If you can afford a new build albeit un an upend coming area of Edinburgh you will get a lot more bang for your buck if you move out of the city. If you choose to move area within Edinburgh you are likely to have ti pay out more on a more than you do for a smaller place.

The primary schools in our area are all very good but the high school is dire as only 35% of kids get 5 or more highers. We hope things improve as our kids are only toddlers yet if not we will have to move and I would gladly accept a smaller house for a better school. Exam grades are not everything and pastoral care does count for a lot but there are too many schools in Scotland where less than 50% of kids get 5 or more highers.

*More on a mortgage

Sceptre Highers are hard. Getting 5 of them is even harder.

Iwalkinmyclothing I would rather my child was at school with posh kids who might be experimenting with drugs (although I recognise that they do so with considerable risk), than with children who drug taking is just one of many issues they have going on and which the school will be trying to address. Trust me- I have experience of both and the first is much easier to manage.

What secondary school is it? Castlebrae? Craigroyston?

We are in catchment for lower performing school but will apply out of catchment for a better one. My DD is only P3 at the moment but am thinking about it already as I really don't want her going to the catchment one!

Which independent school are you considering?

Thanks all especially the Edinburgh peeps. You have reinforced my initial feeling that Broughton is pretty decent, I just wobbled seeing it in the bottom 10.

I have thought about shifting to FS, but I think my eldest might melt down if she has to go to a new school after lock down without saying goodbye to friends. One of her best mates arrived in P6 from Flora’s so I might arrange play dates with her Flora friends.

I think she will be ok transitioning as long as she finds a couple of nice friends early doors. She prefers a small group of friends rather than a big group. Hopefully she will find some like minded a Harry Potter nerds!!

I have been a bit worried about ESMS, some of the kids (and parents) especially in my eldest’s year are quite rude and entitled. Kids grow up in a weird bubble of ski holidays and expensive summer clubs. They don’t understand that some kids have a lot less. The parents are very Also demanding.

All in all I’m feeling a bit happier....

Some of the parents at ESMS are a total nightmare 😂 the school gate nonsense ends when P4 starts 😉

@theshapejaper so true 😂😂😂

I used to find the ESMS mums quite unfriendly and pretentious. Plus with the size of it it is pretty much a state school you pay for 😜

I posted earlier. I didn’t realise it was broughton. I would be delighted with Broughton. It’s a good school.

I thought you were talking about somewhere else.

Agree - private schools have another set of issues relating to more money/drugs/highly competitive and, in general, anxious girls especially with eating disorders. HUGE generalisation and I don’t mean to offend. Just that both options have pros and cons.

I went to a private school. Mine are at state. The opportunities are definitely less but I feel they seem more grounded

My 3 suggestions - if staying in the private sector look at CHS - lovely small school, very much a family vibe. If moving - sell up and move to Linlithgow. If staying with Broughton - save up for a tutor to support if/when needed.

I have friends with kids at Firrhill. It’s climbed up the rankings recently. Affordable housing.

But I don’t honestly think it any better than Broughton. Results are only one factor