Private High School - how to know which will suit DD best?

[iismum]

We're planning for DD to move from state primary into S1 in one of the private schools the year after next (she's currently P6). We've had a lot of advice about how we need to choose the school that we feel is right for her, but I've not much idea how to tell!

My biggest worry is that going in at S1, when friendship groups are fairly established, will be hard. She's reasonably social but fairly quiet and a bit shy. She's been in a group of 5 close friends all the way through primary, so I think the transition may be hard. So I guess a school where a decent proportion of children start in S1 would be good. I had been thinking that ESMS was our first preference, but was told that the girls who've been through primary there can be a bit unwelcoming and snooty towards new S1s and friendship groups are hard to break into. Though I guess that could happen at any school?

She's academic but dreamy so we need somewhere that will challenge and stretch her. She's interested in art, enjoys music but not particularly musical and not very sporty but happy to participate. I'm more inclined towards single sex for her, but flexible if one of the mixed schools suits her better.

Also, is there a school that is easier to get into than the others? As I say, she is academic and I'm not anticipating it being a problem getting her in to any of them, but it would be good to have a back-up of one we knew was easier just in case, as we're not keen on our local state options. But they all seem to be really selective!

I've read a lot of threads about Edinburgh private schools on here and they've been very helpful, but I'm still not sure how to choose! Any advice would be very helpful.

Would moving her in P7 be an option? George Watson's create a class in P7 of new kids which is less intimidating that going into already established classes and friendships, and gives her a year of upper primary before the big leap to S1 and senior school.

I don't have experience of other private schools, but we've been very happy at GWC so far, and find it very friendly and open with lots of opportunities for people with all sorts of interests ans skills. It is big, but don't let that put you off. That was my fear too, but it really doesn't seem so as the school in primary is segmented and has their own areas. Plus it's all on one campus, another thing to bear in mind.

To be honest, I would visit the schools if you haven't already (lots of open days coming up this term ahead), take logistics into account (as you spend a lot of time at school doing drop offs, picks up, activities, etc) but let your daughter have a big say in it. I'm a believer in gut feeling....we went round a lot of the private schools and all of them seemed great, but I got the best feeling from GWC and meeting the pupils and staff there.

Good luck!

Thanks for the advice, that's really helpful. There's no real reason not to move her at P7 I guess - just that both she and we really like her primary school, she's really thriving there, and it seems a shame to take her away early. But if it would lead to a better secondary experience, perhaps it's worth it.

We've had a look at most of them and they all look great, but I still find it hard to get a feel for what the experience of being there would be like and how she'd get on! We're going to some open days next month, but annoyingly they have them all at the same time! There are three Saturdays with 2-3 schools on each, so hard to get round them all. Why do they do that?! We will start booking private visits after the open days I think.

I hadn't really been thinking about GWC because of its size but I've heard a lot of good things about it, so maybe I need to be more open minded! It's the wrong side of town for us though (most of them are though, we're Leith way).

I would say the best way to tell is to go and visit them. 23rd sept is open day for visiting ESMS. We visited 4 schools and dd fell in love with ESMS. Luckily they offered her a place. I did have another preferred option (by me), but we listened to why dd wanted that one and agreed it was a good fit so went with her choice. She started in s1 and while she is fairly shy, the school is very good at helping the new girls fit in. There are quite a few new girls at s1 and while the other girls have gone through most of primary together they are very welcoming. DD made friends with one of them and even now they are very close friends.

Let me know if I can help with any other questions you may have. I also have experience of GWC & GH.

GH create new classes for children entering P6/P7 and also S1.

From my understanding p7 is a good entry year to get used to the way any new school works.

We absolute love GH, although 3 of my kids are in primary still.
Best thing to do is go to all the open days this year and you will get a 'feel' and know which one is right for your child.

Thanks a lot for the advice. Really interesting the GH create new classes for the new S1s. But does this lead to trouble integrating with the rest of the year?

Does anyone have any experience of Stewart's? One advantage of ME for DD is that it gives us an obvious solution for DS when the time comes (2 years younger). But I'm less convinced by Stewart's.

Stewarts operate almost exactly the same as ME.

My son is at Stewart's and I think single sex works well for boys for secondary especially with the diamond formation coming back with girls in s6.

For me, I think the difference between ME and SM is that ME talk more about how it's harder for girls to have their voice heard in a mixed environment (which is objectively true) and are pressured to conform to societal ideas of what girls should be/like/etc (i.e., single sex to move away from stereotyping), whereas SM seem to talk more about teaching boys separately because they think differently to girls and are interested in different things to girls, which seems to me to be reinforcing stereotyping. Maybe that's not true - it's the impression I've got, but just based on a couple of teachers. I actually have no idea whether the research shows boys are less likely to conform to male stereotypes in single sex education (I know this is true for girls). It's good to hear your DS is doing well there. It's a strong contender for us - I'm just less sure than I am about ME. Thanks for the input!

I think I have seen stuff about boys being more willing to contribute in English and Drama where there is an emotional element if they are in single sex. I agree though that most of what is said about single sex is about the benefits to girls. Having only girls I sent them to single sex schools, boys' education is not my problem . My girls went to MES and enjoyed it. They do quite a lot with the boys - the Carbisdale outdoor trip, drama and music productions, house competitions etc, even before they get back together in 6th form.

ESMS emphasise that the single sex system allows pupils in both schools to study without pressure of gender stereotype, so a lot of girls study science and maths at MES and presumably a lot of boys study humanities and languages at SMC. To quote, they say "Boys are able to be themselves, developing their interests and talents in subjects and areas which may not fit traditional gender stereotypes".

GWC, Heriots, Mary Erskine's probably best. Avoid Clifton Hall -not academic -awful reputation.

I've only ever heard positive reports from Clifton Hall. Could you elaborate @cherish123? It's a totally different approach to ESMS Heriots and Watson I agree, but awful reputation seems a little harsh!!

I hope you don't mind me jumping on your thread OP but I'm interested in your question and the answers you have been given.

Is it a case of 'we can pay the fees, here's a place?' or are places at Edinburgh private schools fiercely competitive? Does anyone know how many places are available at each school and how many prospective pupils are going for them?

I can help with regard to GWC and entry at P1 and how I understand it.

There are 5 P1classes of approx 21/22 kids in each, so approx 110 places up for grabs. There are 64 max places in the GWC nursery, and most children will go into the school from there. Assuming all 64 go up, that leaves 46 places. A good chunk of these will go to siblings of older children already at GWC, which obv will vary from year to year, but ultimately it leaves very few places for brand new pupils.

I've no idea how many kids go for a place, but all kids for P1, be they GWC nursery, siblings and new are 'assessed' and then offered a place or not.

We kind of went through this last year when we moved here from Detroit, USA.
We finally picked ESMS for our sons based on the visit and the general feel we got from the school. One of our sons went into S2 and had some problems in the first year breaking into social groups and generally feeling as though he was accepted. Our other son went into P3 and told me every day for the first month that he had made a new best friend - he has about four close friends now. Our oldest is having a better year this time around and seems a lot more settled and happier within himself.
If I had the choice I would definitely have moved my oldest in P7 to ease the transition. There were only two places available when we applied for S2.
I hope this helps.

A correction on my post....obv a lot of the kids in nursery are siblings (makes sense) so that frees up a few more places but not many.

OttersPocket at the mentioned schools GWC, ESMS etc it is certainly not "we can pay the fees, here's a place". There is a certain amount of competition and many do not get places. They are not always looking for the most academic children, they are often looking for those with potential or who have something to offer the school, eg certain sports, music etc, although they do have to be at a certain standard academically.