Mary Erskine's Entry - p7 or S1?

[gardenhen]

Hi, wondering if anyone has any advice on entry to Mary Erskine's- specifically whether it would be better to start (at ESMS junior school) this August in p7, or wait and start in S1? Is the assessment more difficult for S1? Competition for places? We are moving to Edinburgh area this summer and I think it might be good to get to know the local kids by attending local school for a year, but of course want the best for DD in terms of education :-) Any advice appreciated

I would say P7 as when my son started in p6 took him a year to catch up with the ways of workings in the school.

P6 or S1 are big intake years so can be easier to make friends as all classes shuffled. P7 might not have any places and assessments and placing are in place now for August for all Scottish private schools.

Depending on how quick your dd is at making friends, I would be tempted to try and place her in one school and keep her there rather than moving after a year. Having said that you may not be able to get a place at ME for this summer as it is quite competitive and assessments have already taken place, but I would still try as you may be lucky. P.S> My dd went there and loved it!