George Watson's college

catrachmattben · 2012-04-25T12:58:53+00:00

Can any parents give me any information or opinions of the Junior school from upper primary onwards.Thinking of applying for a place for my son who will be eight in October. Many thanks.

kaumana · 25/04/2012 14:23

The school is very popular and because of this tends to be at full capacity with a waiting list. If you are thinking about the coming academic year I would give admissions a call as the entrance exams were at the end of last year and offers went out earlier in the year.

Groovee · 25/04/2012 17:39

My friend's dd is at the school about to finish P7 and she loves it. Says it's the best decision they made for her. The classes are larger than her state primary was, but the teachers seem to really know their children. She's hoping for her son to go soon. They had to wait 18 months for a place though and you resit the entrance exam when the time comes too.

kaumana · 25/04/2012 18:31

I agree with Groovee in the above. If you are planning to join the school in the upper primary years you may have to sit the entrance exam a couple of times ( if not more). This may make you raise an eye brow or two but as it stands only a 1/3 of applications or less go into P7. Can be less for S1.

kaumana · 25/04/2012 18:36

I agree with Groovee in the above. If you are planning to join the school in the upper primary years you may have to sit the entrance exam a couple of times ( if not more). This may make you raise an eye brow or two but as it stands only a 1/3 of applications or less go into P7. Can be less for S1.

kaumana · 25/04/2012 18:39

Blardy phone , sorry for the double post

Original poster

catrachmattben · 25/04/2012 22:05

Thanks for advice, phoned admissions and told to fill in application form has there could be a place left in p4 will go through the process. Any information on how broad a curriculum it is and how they stetch more able pupils without been OTT with homework has DD will only be 7years when starts.

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Groovee · 25/04/2012 22:13

Don't know about P4 but I know P6 and 7 is around 40 minutes of homework nightly. My dd's in a pretty good state school and only gets about 1/2 of what her friend gets. There's a lot of opportunities. My dd would love to go. But it's just not going to happen unless I make a miraculous recovery and can work full time again.

Chrysanthemum5 · 26/04/2012 11:07

When DS started I had lots of discussions with the school about homework, as I was concerned it might be OTT. They were clear that it should take a certain amount of time for different years, and that if it is too much or too little the teachers were open for discussions around it. I've found that to be correct, in P3 I'd say DS gets about 10 minutes homework per night. Reading books twice a week, one or two maths sheets a week, and a short writing activity.

They use the curriculum for Excellence. I'm pleased with the way DS is being taught, and what they are learning. The school has excellent specialist teachers who work with the classes for example I'd say the junior schoool music teachers are incredible, and really get the children learning and performing with confidence.

Original poster

catrachmattben · 26/04/2012 13:15

Thanks for the responses they sound reassuring.Would love to hear any further information from anyone with any knowledge of the school.

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Original poster

catrachmattben · 26/04/2012 13:17

What is the behaviour like in the class rooms and the work ethos of the school?

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rookiemater · 26/04/2012 21:36

DS is in P1 and has been in the nursery, so not the precise age range you are looking at.
I love the school, they seem to have quite strict standards in the classroom and aren't afraid to enforce them.

mani83 · 27/04/2012 09:34

Rookie how big are the classes when they are that young at GW?

rookiemater · 27/04/2012 13:50

Nursery was 31 - but they have lots of class room helpers. P1 is 25 so I'm guessing the other junior classes are that number too.

Psbuck10 · 06/11/2024 22:21

Our family is moving to Edinburgh in the Summer of ‘25. We are currently looking at local schools (state and private) for our son, who will turn 14 in July. I am wondering about the peer culture of Boroughmuir, Firrhill, George Watson, Edinburgh Academy, George Heriots, and the Royal High School. Our son is smart, bi-identifying, arty, open minded, and quirky. His current school is too conservative for him. We want to find a place where athletics do not dominate and it is ok to be different. Would love to hear about peer culture of the secondary schools in Edinburgh.

Groovee · 06/11/2024 23:05

Psbuck10 · 06/11/2024 22:21

Our family is moving to Edinburgh in the Summer of ‘25. We are currently looking at local schools (state and private) for our son, who will turn 14 in July. I am wondering about the peer culture of Boroughmuir, Firrhill, George Watson, Edinburgh Academy, George Heriots, and the Royal High School. Our son is smart, bi-identifying, arty, open minded, and quirky. His current school is too conservative for him. We want to find a place where athletics do not dominate and it is ok to be different. Would love to hear about peer culture of the secondary schools in Edinburgh.

It may be worth starting your own thread.