Moving to dundee

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Hi Moving to Dundee, Scotland, after July as my husband got job at the University. For my DD high school, we have found Harris academy and Grove academy to be the best in the region.
Can anyone can say which is the best option?
Which is more multicultural?

Also heard that Perth have good school as well, a Grammar school?
Can anyone advice please

Thanks

I'm guessing you're moving from England? We don't have selective grammar schools in Scotland, some state comprehensives will be called x grammar school, but that's just historical. Academy is also just the name and nothing like the academy system in England. You can look up their inspection reports online. In Scotland, most people go to their closest high school but it might depend where there are spaces. Hopefully someone local will come along to give you some more detail on the schools you mentioned.

so, go onto the council website and see what the catchment school is for where you will live. Even if you don't know where you are going to be staying, call the council and ask for advice re admission. If you move in July, then be aware school starts back late August - school year is a bit different in Scotland. Normally, you attend the school for your address, simples. also, yes, as per PP, a 'grammar' school is just a regular comp, as is an academy. it's just names. You probably don't want your DD to schlep from Dundee to Perth for school every day - ??

Yes we are moving from England. Thanks for the reply.
\We checked the report .found few reviews positive and negative. and have contacted the school for a visit..
lets see

Thanks

Yes we have contacted the council and got request form which we have to submit tp school directly. will do after school visit.
Our plan is to first find a good school then get an apt near by, as we have to give address proof when we submit the form.

I have wondered abt the grammar school😀. as there are no grammar school in Scotland.

Perth is another option.
Wherever we can find a good school, we are ready to move.
Husband can travel from Perth to Dundee 😆
Thanks again

Hi,
Got reply from the school in Dundee.. They don't give school visit !!!!

Is it like that in all high schools in Dundee/ Scotland?

I really wish my daughter and us to have a feeling of the school before we decide.

Hi, I'm originally from Dundee and went to school there. In Scotland, as someone has mentioned, it's all done in catchment areas so you won't necessarily have a choice, unless you choose a private school. So if you are living in Dundee, your daughter will likely be at the Harris unless it's the other end of Dundee (Broughty Ferry/Monifieth) in which case it will be Grove. If you choose to move to Invergowrie, which is a little village attached to Dundee, you are under Perth council there and Perth school holidays etc so she would be at a school in Perth. Sometimes they make exceptions and let you go to the Harris but usually it's Perth.

Hi, Thanks. We are confused b/w Groove and Harris. Found both to be good. Some says Harris is bit strict, and grove going downhill.🙁

We have our eyes on Kinross high school but bit hard to commute to Dundee😰

To be honest, all schools have good sides and down sides, so I would take it with a pinch of salt. There will be good teachers at both. Yeah I would say Kinross is too far to travel to daily particularly as a school child. Unless you lived there, she likely wouldn't get accepted anyway. I would just assume it will be the catchment of where you decide to stay 😊

Yup Thanks. our plan is to move to the catchment area where we can find a good school.

Good luck with it all 😊

Hi I live near Dundee. I would go for Harris and look for a place to live in that catchment - it's near the university so will be convenient for you. Grove is at the opposite end of the city.

Thank you. will consider this

You might be better posting on the Scotsnet section as you may get more local advice there. I'm the wrong side of the country for Dundee I'm afraid, but I'd agree school visits aren't really a 'thing' in Scotland as the vast majority of kids go to their catchment High School- the school visits generally only happen in the June before they leave primary school, as part of the transition process.

The exam season has just started in Scotland too, this is the first week of SQA exams so schools will be fairly busy with those right now. How old is your daughter, as it's obviously easier to move between the systems the younger in high school she is. Generally most high schools 'move up' at the start of June to the next year (so S1s move to their S2 timetable, S2 to S3 and so on) and do a month in their new school year before the summer holidays. Summer holidays are usually end of June to the 2nd/3rd week in August, so she may have quite a short summer unless you leave her old school a bit early.

All the best for the move.

Will do that . Thanks.
My daughter is currently in yr 7, which is the start year of high school in England. and finishes by end of July.
Are you saying Yr 8, S1 will start their lessons a month in their new school in June?
We can't give a proof of address until the end of June.
Lets see

Thanks again

S1 don't start high school in June but S2 and up usually start new timetable in June as it gives exam years more time to cover the course. The cut off date is different so depends on DOB which year they would go into.

The school years aren’t a direct match up with England- when is her birthday? S1 is the first year of secondary school and children starting this year will 11,5 to 12,5 in August - the cut off date is the end of February. So if she’s only just turned 12 she would be going into S1 but if she was 12 last year she’d be going into S2. (It’s complicated a bit by the fact that it is common to defer Jan/feb born kids at primary entrance.)
The month in June won’t be a major issue if she’s going inyo
S2 but is more so in the exam years (S4/5/6) as part of the curriculum will be covered then.

Thanks
Really. She turned 12 last year. Does that mean she should go to S2 directly skipping S1,which is year 8 in england??
she cant miss a year!!!!
😳

Hello my DH family are from Dundee, so while I have nothing to add on schooling from the multicultural (I am not white) aspect I can contribute. It was and is very white. Previously we’d visit and literally see the same brown family again and again in addition to the stereotypical takeaway shops. Our visit this month and it felt like it had changed quite a bit: more black families (could actually count children in a playground still very low numbers), more girls wearing hijabs, more small children who are not white wandering in friend groups etc. Generally I’ve always found people to be very friendly and warm even when I’ve gone to the football or random places not in the centre.

Thank you

Just asked. Both her primary and high school was multicultural.
So was wondering how there will be. She is bit introvert type so was bit worried.
She will be Okay am sure. its just me!
We been here in Uk for 10 years now anyways. As you said all friendly and welcoming.

Thanks again

She's not really missing a year, she's transferring into a completely different system. Scottish school children do one less year at school overall (if you count English Reception as a school year) - in England you have R to Y6 (7 years) in primary and then Y7-Y11 or 13 (5-7 years) in high school. In Scotland it's P1-P7 (7 years) in primary and S1-S4,5 or 6 (4-6 years) in high school. In reality most middle class / academic kids do 6 years. A lot of Scottish children are only 17 when they leave school even after S6 (mine won't be 18 until the December after he leaves school for example).

S1-S3 is called Broad General Education and the exam courses start in S4. Generally most schools choose subjects at the end of S2 so she'll have time to settle in before she needs to make choices. Nat5s are sat at the end of S4 (most state schools do 6 or 7, some maybe 8) and Highers (our main exam for eg uni entry) at the end of S5 (academic kids would do 5 Highers normally. Very occasionally 6 in exceptional circumstances). In S6 you can choose to do more Highers / pick up a Nat5 or two / do some Advanced Highers and/or other courses eg Sports Leadership. It's much more flexible than Alevels. Some very competitive uni courses eg medicine require Advanced Highers and give conditional offers but many courses will give offers on the basis of the S5 Higher results (meaning S6 can be quite a relaxed year!)

There are definitely pros and cons to the Scottish system and the curriculum definitely has it's critics, but I really like the flexibility in senior years especially. Hope that helps a bit!

My 2 eldest go to Harris and I can confidently say we have never had an issue. One of my kids have sen and it was the school guidance and nurture team that fought for them to be seen by cahms and they have put so many things in place even though there is no diagnosis. They are always updating me regarding how they are getting on and what the plans are. My other child speaks highly of all their teachers and is loving school, and every parents evening the teachers have always been warm and friendly and have let me know if there are any issues beforehand.

Wow... that was really informative .. Thank you
Had much confusion about this.
Hope we cope with this
thanks again

That's good to hear. Thanks
we are really hoping for Harris as its near to university.

The harris catchment area is quite large and includes invergowrie also

Ok Thats good. Thanks