Moving to Aberdeen: good primary schools?

[SallyfromSA]

Hi,

Strong chance my husband will be taking up a job in Aberdeen within the next 6 months. We will be coming from Australia (tho' he was born there and mother-in-law in Portlethen.)

My son turned 4 in April and I'll need to sort out schooling.

Which to do first: find good school and move into that area or are all the state schools generally of a good standard?

Any tips on decent affordable areas within 45 mins drive of the city? I wouldn't mind being in the countryside.

Can't wait!

Any input would be fab. Thanks.
Sally

[AberdeenQuine]

The independent co-ed schools are

Robert Gordon's College
Albyn
Hamilton School
The International School

There's also an independent girls' school, St Margarets.

My kids are at RGC and I'm more than happy with it. DD1 did nursery and reception at Hamilton. She enjoyed it but I've since heard not so good reports about it. I've never fancied Albyn. The International School is lovely (my DD attended a summer club there) though I think, not sure, they follow the American curriculum. St Margaret's is a great school though limited in subjects for seniors.

RGC is in the centre of town. St Megs is to the west of the centre but still very central. Albyn & Hamilton a little further out and The International School is just outside town, to the west.

My personal order of preference would be

1. RGC
   
2. The International School
   
3. St Margarets
   Joint Last, by a mile) Albyn/Hamilton

[SallyfromSA]

Thanks to you all for your advice. We hope to end up in Aberdeen some day BUT latest news just in is that we are moving to...Glasgow...

[RinaWS]

Hello, I am from Indonesia. We are moving to Aberdeen in September. My 10 year old is worried she will be the only Asian in school! I guess there must be families from all over the world because of oil industry? But I wondered if there are primary schools with more ethnic mix than others? Appreciate any advice.

[Mom2twoTexans]

We are moving to Aberdeen this winter and are looking for an area to buy in based on good primary schools as well. My oldest won't start P1 until Fall 2014. Inverurie is high on our list from internet searches. Does anyone know what schools it will feed into? We are coming from the States, and I'd love to find a preschool attached to the primary but mostly care about a very good primary rating!

[tinatulip78]

Hi there,

I am moving to Aberdeen by June 2014 and need as much advice as possible, I am totally clueless. I am coming from Swansea. My hubby is hoping to secure a job there, I have children in primary and secondary Please can anyone help me with the best areas and a rough guide to rental costs. Preferably would like to live in or close to Aberdeen city. And finally which schools would you recommend, I understand that the scottish curriculum is completely different to the welsh one.

Thanks in advance.

[julzie]

Hi, I am moving back to Aberdeen hopefully at some point in the summer, we currently live in the shire. My ds is due to start school in Aug. I have no experience about schools yet but for people asking about rentals Aberdeen is very expensive! Check out the aspc website for an idea of rental prices. For information about schools and catchment areas you can look on the Aberdeen City council website. STV news published the league tables for the Secondry schools too, i normally google to find them. Hope this helps a little. I have only been away for 4 and a half years but it will be very strange coming back even though i only moved an hour away and still go back regularly

[maturemum1]

news.stv.tv/scotland/257347-school-league-tables-2013-exam-and-performance-details-for-aberdeenshire/

news.stv.tv/scotland/257330-school-league-tables-2013-exam-and-performance-details-for-aberdeen/

It is possible to work in Aberdeen City and live in Aberdeenshire. Because of the A90 even Stonehaven which looks a long way away on the map is only a 20 minute drive from Aberdeen City Centre. Large family Rentals are few and far between check //www.aspc.co.uk as someone else said.
There are loads of newbuild houses going up all around Aberdeen City and much of it is actually in Aberdeenshire (e.g. Portlethen). A whole newtown is planned at Elrick (next to Newtonhill).

[julzie]

Does anyone know what areas are popular with renting? We are hoping to buy back in Aberdeen again but are only planning on staying a 1-2 years before (fingers crossed) going overseas. We would like to buy then rent the property when we are go. We used to live in Bridge of Don so i think thats an option. Was wondering about Portlethen? We are keen on the city centre but will be down sizing on this move and we have a lot of stuff so we need to find a property with storage which is why we are also considering the burbs. Am starting to find the stress creeping in now we have a ds in tow.

[icekarma]

Avoid the Hamilton School, there are many far better Schools available in the City.

Here's why, //www.boycottthehamiltonschool.wordpress.com

And look at the upheld complaints from the official inspectorate.. //www.careinspectorate.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7644&Itemid=489&bereNextPageId=ComplaintsDetails_action.php&action=displayComplaint&compId=CS2010271510

[NOSANENE]

Hello everyone, does any one know of any nurseries that currently have space, just moved to Aberdeen and all the nurseries i contacted currently do not have space and would not even have until next year.

[Babyfish1105]

Hi! We are moving to aberdeen soon. St Joseph's and Ashley Road school are within in catchment area, which school is better? Thank you x

[areluctantborderer]

You CAN repeat a year in a Scottish Primary.
We have done it.

[Mesembryanthemum]

Hamilton has been closed as had all sorts of problems. Waldolf is closing as also had problems which drove folk away so no longer viable but not as bad as Hamilton which was closed by the inspectors/government.

Not sure why Aberdeenquine didn't like Albyn as they have better exam results than RGC or St Margaret's. I know quite a few folk very happy there but maybe it is just personal taste. RGC is a lot larger (with larger class sizes). All the private schools have waiting lists. The international school is more expensive, does the IB, has a very mobile population and I think is now hard to get into if not an oil company expat (it is owned by oil companies). Looks nice and has brilliant facilities.

Banchory, Cults, Aberdeen Grammer and Westhill are good secondaries so would aim for one of their feeder primaries. You probably won't get into any of these unless you are in catchment. But they also reflect the catchments (lots of professionals/private housing) and there are lots of other reasonable schools in less expensive areas! St Joseph's and St Peter's are Catholic schools.

[Nosthemum]

Any thoughts on the Banchory Primaries? Hill of Banchory v Banchory primary? Is it difficult to get in if out of catchment? Strachan primary: anyone any experience here?

[Mothershipof5]

Hi all,
We hope to move from London to Aberdeen next year. Looking at areas around Aberdeen. We will need both a secondary and primary school. Any thoughts or change to the chats above.
Thanks in advance for any advice 😊

[Medee]

HI, I think a lot of the advice is similar. There are no really bad schools, but if you are in the city, the nicer areas are to the west - Cults and westwards, Airyhall, Mannofield. You can go further afield and be in the country quite quickly, so choice of location will often depend on where your work is.

[Taiba2020]

Hi we are moving from Preston to aberdeen in august anyone have any idea which secondary academy is best as my both kids will go to academy.Thanks