Rejected by Edinburgh Private Schools? (P1 entrance assessment)

[tartanlabrador]

We are relocating to Edinburgh prior to August and DS (just turned 5YO) is having P1 entrance assessments for GH, GWC and ESMS.

(As an aside, I know that there are some fantastic state options in Edinburgh. Before anybody lambasts me, I'm not looking for a debate.)

From chatting to other parents/admissions staff, it seems the competition is pretty fierce.. I've heard GWC has 90 prospective pupils per 30 places, and I suspect sibling preference will account for some of those places too.

Also, it seems that many parents apply for the same 3 schools. Has anybody been offered a waiting list place then actually been successful in securing entry?

I am wondering if anyone has any experience of entry at P1 to Edinburgh private schools that would be willing to share their thoughts.. Did your DC get offers from some but not other schools? Maybe there's some insiders who may be able to share an insight into the criteria that the assessors look for?

DS loves meeting new people, so I'm not concerned about him not enjoying the assessment experience. DH and I are finding this a pretty stressful and uncertain time though.

I'd love to hear from you!
Thanks :) x

Have a look at Cargilfield in Edinburgh. Fabulous traditional prep school. They might have places for P1. It is small, friendly, fantastic facilities, small class sizes, brilliant teachers and is very academic. Couldn't recommend it enough. Has the advantage of not being an all through 3-18 school thus allowing your DC the chance to move onto a senior school that most suits their needs and personality at age 13.

Sorry, I can't comment on any of the other 3 schools for P1 as I only know kids who attend these schools At senior level.

Welcome to Edinburgh! This is a fairly frequently-asked question on the Edinburgh local board; here's one relevant thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/local/2741139-Private-school-entry-at-P1
Anecdotally, I think the competition may not be quite as fierce in practice as the schools like you to think - certainly seems much commoner to hear about parents being anxious before the assessments than about them actually not getting their children in, both here and IRL! As you say, most people apply for several schools, so the numbers actually competing for a place are hard to judge (ykwim: if 3 schools each have 30 places and 90 applicants, all of whom have applied for all 3 schools, there isn't actually a shortage of places at all). GWC is huge, which helps. Moreover lots of children - including most siblings - start in the nurseries, whence admission to P1is almost automatic, so maybe the non-nursery places are much affected by sibling priority? I'm speculating.

I second the suggestion to consider Cargilfield, which is non-selective, but gets stellar academic results all the same. I'd be a little surprised if they do still have a P1 place for next year, but you could ring and ask.

not much affected, I mean

Coo, are these schools over-subscribed? I have no direct experience of them, but as an Edinburgh resident I've always believed the big independents must be in fierce competition with each other for not enough pupils to go round. Didn't realise it was the opposite.

Sorry, this isn't helpful. My only contact with the independent schools is that a lot of Heriots and Watsons pupils travel on the bus route I take into work. I hope your DS is happy in his new school when he starts and wherever he starts, OP.

Thanks so much for your comments!

Definitely try Cargilfield. Lovely school. Not sure about places for next year but certainly worth asking.