Moving to Edinburgh - sorting out schools

[maggiethecat]

Looks like we will be moving and am trying to figure out schools. Dd1 was 7 in Aug (currently in yr 3 at RC school in England) and dd2 was 4 in Nov (will be reception in Sep 2011 in England or P1 Scotland I think).

We will visit as a family end January and am putting together a list of schools we'd like to see when there (I should add I've never been to Scotland).

DD will work in Little France area so need to find home/schools within reasonable distance.

We've heard about St Peters RC and have appointment to see them. Also heard about Flora Stevenson which sounds good since dd1 is very musical. James Gillespie and St Marys also mentioned by dh's friend.

I'd love to hear if anyone has dc attending or otherwise knows anything about any of these schools.

All of the schools mentioned have good reputations, but none will be anywhere near Little France.

Not sure how much you know about the Edinburgh catchment system, but looking at the recent school closures and increasing rolls you may want to have a think about locating youself near a chosen school, as applying out of catchment will probably be an impossibility for a lot of the popular schools.

By the way my son is enrolled for school Aug 2011 and I myself have grown up through through the Edinburgh school system so know a little of how it works. Not everything though.

hope this helps and doesn't depress too much.

Thanks NK - know very little about Edinburgh and even less about school system. Am trying to speedily educate myself.

Only need to be within fairly easy commute (up to 45 mins I'd say) to Little France.

Dh tells me that it's unlikely to find 2 voluntary aided, or 2 non voluntary aided schools within same catchment altho you can find a v-aided and non v-aided within same.

Will try to position ourselves to be as close to catchment as possible as we understand that this is the primary consideration in getting offers even moreso than being practising catholic for catholic schools - is this correct?

I do feel a little overwhelmed esp for my younger dd who is to start school in 2011. We have not even applied for her yet as we have not sorted out housing and are very much at the beginning of the whole process.

The elder may be lucky to get a place since she has already started school and hopefully if there is some movement within her year and if waiting lists are not too long, she may stand a chance.

The alternative I suppose would be consider independent schools altho we have not used them before. But I'd rather that dd2 not go to a school by default.

The Gillespies or St Peters RC catchment areas are a great place to live in the city. You'd be walking distance to the lovely Meadows park for the kids and from there you can pretty much walk to anywhere in town ie Princes Street, Newington, Festival venues. You can check out the HMIe website for the reviews on the schools.

I can't say much about living in the other two areas as they are in the north of the city, although they are still only a few miles from the hospital and less than 45min commute (although would be close on a bus!!).

Enjoy your visit! You might just fall in love with Morningside when you visit as many have.

As others have posted living in a catchment area is a must especially regarding the schools you have mentioned.

Sorry, I'm unsure what you mean by voluntary aided schools?

St Peters RC has a great reputation (my dc do not attend but hear great things from friends) and I have to agree with the pp re Morningside! Handy to get to Little France, bus no 38 will get you straight there if you don't want to pay the parking charges! (wink)

In the independant sector Watson's is in the south of Edinburgh ie walking distance from Bruntsfield/Morningside/Merchiston/Craiglockhart (big site). However, unless starting in P1 there can be long waiting lists. The P1 interviews take place in January.

RE the 45 minute commute distance what you think you should be able to do in 45 mins may be VERY different in Edinburgh. I live 2 miles form the city centre and I allow 45 mins to get into work.

HTH

Meant to add, I have a couple of friends who do not attend church/mass and this did not seem to be an issue however catchment does.

There aren't voluntary aided etc schools in Scotland - there are only state schools and Roman Catholic state schools. Wherever you live, you will be in a catchment for one of each, though the outlines of the catchments will be different. Being within a catchment doesn't guarantee you a place in the catchment school (of either sort), but a majority of children up here still do go to one of their catchment schools. You can also apply to a school which is not your catchment - that is referred to as a "Placing Request". Some schools try to keep places available for pupils who move into the catchment during the year, but it does depend on them having spaces.

You can go to an RC school even if you are not RC, and RCs can go to the non-denominational schools.

Sorry, none of that helps you pick one or work out the commute, but it's worth understanding how the ssem is different from England.

Am I right in thinking that Edinburgh state schools shut for a half day on Fridays or have I COMPLETELY made that up?

Why thang you Stewie, I'm not quite away wi' the faeries just yet then.

This is all helpful. I've been to schools' catchment maps and it's not as easy to pick out areas eg Merchiston as actual roads. I'm doing property searches and I think it's easier to search by area.

Someone mentioned two of the schools being to the North of the city. Can anyone comment broadly on how it is living in the north, south etc of the city? Dh had mentioned that the catchment for Flora Stevenson (north?) seemed to be made up largely of flats and that houses seemend rare; he also got the feeling that it was a busy student housing area and I wonder if that's bcos of Uni, if it is true.

Explains why I could find so few houses in places like Merchiston.

Oh Maggie you must feel a bit bambozzled now!

On the face of it, if you explain that Edinburgh CC is just really flats and v expensive large houses it doesn't sound good. But the flats were build in a time when people gave consideration to how you live, ie large bay windows, thick walls and there is still a lot of green public space around. So don't let it put you off.

I know the south of Edinburgh v well, as for the North, not so sure, but have a friend near Flora Stevenson's and its lovely there,

best of luck

NK7 is that a Scottish term?

Housing that I've seen online so far seem nice. Would really like a house though - lived in a fab flat in London and the one thing I hated before buying a house was having someone living above me.

Stewie, looked at Stockbridge and I liked what I saw.

Is it a bank holiday in Scotland tomorrow? Am going to start calling agents in Edinburgh.

Just to let you know re St Peters, our neighbours DCs go there and they rate it very highly.

We plumped for Watsons in the end, but I did phone up and ask about St Peters priority process for applicants and they did say that you did not have to be catholic to attend or be considered to attend. In reality I'm not sure how that would work as I would imagine there would be a strong religous element to assemblies and teaching and I felt it could be confusing for DS if he went as we are not religous.

We live in a house on the outskirts of Edinburgh, I do agree with SGM that you get more space in an old flat, but having lived in Edinburgh tenements before we love not having to worry about noisy neighbours and also on a cul de sac so all the children can play together.

Dds are catholic so not a problem. St Peters is on the list to visit. Is Watsons private?

There are some city centre houses which are only about the same price (or less) as a 3 bedroomed flat in the area like this. That one is close to St. Mary's.

However, the proportions of the rooms are much smaller. The Georgian flats are so nice and spacious. But yes, can be a bit of a nightmare if people are partying above you.

I do understand the trade-off. We kept our Victorian 3 bed flat near central London when we moved further out and I am always struck by the grand proportions of the rooms when I go back in. Our current house is bigger in footprint but not as grand. But now I never wake to the noise of someone scraping their chair on the floor or late night laundry.

Will keep an open mind though esp since we may rent initially.

Watsons is private, DS is at nursery there, we are very happy with it. It is a very big school which takes some getting used to, upside means there are lots of facilities and out of school options.

Hope you find what you are looking for.

Hope so too, thank you.