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Original poster

N.Berwick High vs Edinburgh independent

51 replies

cedricsneer · 23/09/2015 11:19

I have posted this elsewhere but am looking for traffic, so I'd be hugely grateful for any advice. I am aware I am asking for a comparison between apples and pears, but I am really dithery and need some help.

We could scrape independent day school fees for our 3 kids but it would be a big struggle and would mean sacrificing lots of holidays etc. This has always been the plan (probably the Edinburgh Academy) but I am starting to get pretty nervous about the committment this would entail and what could happen if our circumstances change.

We have 3 ds - the eldest is in p5, so we are thinking about secondary now - he is very sensitive and I worry that at a big Edinburgh high school he would get lost. The other 2 are more robust and would probably be fine.

Could anyone give me any feedback about how these schools may compare. Particularly how N.Berwick has suited a kid of a sensitive disposition who is inclined to daydreaming! My dh is not massively keen to move to N. Berwick, but I know it well and love it. We could afford a pretty decent house in N.Berwick if we sold here (especially if not committing to fees).

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Original poster
cedricsneer · 14/10/2015 07:50

Rooners, I think nb is as well placed for teenagers as anywhere - it has that big skate park thing and the train to town is pretty good. Plus if they go to the high school all their mates will be local anyway...

I had lots of friends who grew up in nb. I used to love going and hanging out with them on the beach etc.

I do know what you mean though. I grew up in cities and have never lived anywhere else so worry about feeling isolated. With the ages my kids are now though, despite living in stockbridge, we don't make the most of edinburgh at all. In fact sometimes I feel I could be anywhere - it's the same feeling that made me leave London. Plus my folks would be nearer nb so maybe more babysitting? (Probably not!)

Do you mind me asking where else you are considering? Not much on the market in nb at the moment which is a bit of a worry...

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Roonerspism · 15/10/2015 02:40

Thanks... I think you make a good point about it being teenager dependent. Don't they all sit in their rooms now with phones?! Shock

I grew up near a decent city but we used to get the bus in and try to go to pubs. I'm not sure it did me any good although you could argue I was more "streetwise" much as I hate that term.

cedric ask away - it's good to share thoughts. We are basically considering Balerno/NB/Firrhill and Penicuik. In respect of the latter, I have heard the schools are good and you get a lot of house for your money and we are quite outdoorsy. The bus route to Edinburgh is good.

What are your thoughts? It's a minefield

Original poster
cedricsneer · 15/10/2015 07:13

It sure is. I did my teaching practice at balerno - it was a great school and significantly better than the other 2 I did it in. I also like that part of town, but prefer nb.

I have a friend who went to beeslack in the 90s and enjoyed it. I'm not a fan of Penicuik though and it's much much more mixed socially (which may be fine for you).

Don't know anything about firrhill. For some reason I have it in my head that it is nb or nothing. For me the sea is a bit of a clincher tbh, but also having family near by. I would have to say, I would prefer my teenagers going out in nb than Penicuik. There is also the whole sailing/surfing/golf thing.

The proximity to golf is a big plus for us. My husband grew up in a small town with access to golf and tennis on the doorstep and this definitely kept him out of trouble. He is also brilliant at both of these sports/was in national jr teams - so it would be great to give ours the same opportunities.

I get the house for your money thing too. Went to look at a house in nb which is on at only slightly less than our 2.5k sq ft period house in the west end and it was smaller and needed more than £100k spent on it Confused. And that's one of the only things on the market. I think if we do it we will have to sell here, rent in catchment and then bide our time for the right house to show up.

OP posts:
Roonerspism · 15/10/2015 07:26

Have you considered Dunbar? We have friends there who really like it as you could get a lot more house but similar beach access and the intercity to Edinburgh. Not quite so charming.

I have friends with kids at Firrhill who are delighted with it and it is doing really well as a school. Apparently a succession of good heads have improved it.

I love NB too... I'm just not sure about making the jump to move there

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 15/10/2015 07:31

Have you considered Musselburgh? Close to Edinburgh and a beach etc.

It might be too "mixed socially" for you though, as that seems important to you..

(Sorry but that is a horrible term!)

LittleCandle · 15/10/2015 07:32

My DD went to North Berwick High for 5th and 6th years (after a house move and going to a much less successful school for 3rd and 4th years) and loved it. The kids are encouraged to work and there are lots of clubs and things to join. The atmosphere is great and DD loved it. My suggestion would be to go and visit both schools and have a chat with them. However, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend NBH. My DD travelled on the train to school each day and was not the only one doing that by any stretch of the imagination.

LittleCandle · 15/10/2015 07:34

Don't consider Musselburgh - unless there has been a huge sea change there in the last few years (and I haven't heard anything about it) it was a crap school when DD was there. It is incredibly grim!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 15/10/2015 07:43

I did honestly read that NB had a problem with rowdy teenagers at night. It may or may not be true. Perhaps someone who lives there can advise.

Original poster
cedricsneer · 15/10/2015 07:52

Thanks candle, great to hear.

Social demography is a very commonly used analysis tool by town planners/ school assessments etc fanjo. Doesn't bother me whether somewhere is socially mixed or not, but it's a fact of life and it would be stupid to discount it when researching something as thoroughly as we obviously have - whether or not it makes a difference to the choice. And this thread is about looking at every aspect of that choice.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 15/10/2015 07:55

I didn't come back to MN to argue so I won't get into this one.

Obviously it's your choice and I wish you well. Not all working class people are hooligans who do badly at school though.

Original poster
cedricsneer · 15/10/2015 08:00

My husband is a working class hooligan who went to a big comp in Glasgow and got great Highers, so I know that, honestly. I also did teaching practice in 3 Edinburgh high schools.

Thanks for the suggestion of Musselburgh - I think it's too far from east Lothian family though.

OP posts:
Original poster
cedricsneer · 15/10/2015 08:02

Oh and he is the one pushing for private btw Confused.

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whiteagle · 15/10/2015 08:06

You are in a dither! Questions I would be answering are

Do you want to educate your dc privately- is this important to you and your DH? Would you sell your flat to cover school fees if you had to?

Do you like your current house and life in Edinburgh?

Have you vidited your current catchment high school?

Do you want to "start again" in a small coastal town?

What will the reality of commuting from N Berwick be like in a day to day basis?

Do you like the school in N. Berwick - you need to make an appointment to go and look round the school - you can make decision like this on other people's opinions.

If you move will your dc get places in primary school - what are these like?

LittleCandle · 15/10/2015 08:39

There is a big mix socially at NBH. You have kids who have lots (new BMW for 17th birthday?) and kids who have nothing. I found the most important things were the kids were encouraged to learn and enjoyed it. the teachers were great; I couldn't fault them. NB is a lovely place to live - wish I could afford to live there.

Original poster
cedricsneer · 15/10/2015 09:13

Then that sounds perfect candle. I want my kids to be in a socially mixed school, but the biggest reason it appeals to me is all I have read (in inspection reports etc) about the pastoral care and sense of social responsibility that the kids gain. Thanks again.

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Original poster
cedricsneer · 15/10/2015 09:14

Eagle, thank you. You are right - I am not looking at the basics. The trouble is, I fear, my dh and I are not in 100% agreement about these things. Impacting on my relationship with him (ie making the move and him being unhappy) is something I'm not prepared to compromise on so we are a bit stuck.

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myotherusernameisbetter · 15/10/2015 09:44

What High School are you currently in catchment for and if you don't want your children to go to that one, is there another that is easy for them to get to that you would like that you have a good chance of getting a placing request accepted for? Though I would think about that carefully when you have more than one child as obviously siblings are not guaranteed a place.

I went to Firrhill many many years ago it had a very diverse catchment at that time with kids from Colinton village sitting alongside kids like me from rougher areas. It was seen at that time as the poorer cousin to Bourghmuir which I believe was selectively taking pupils from the "poor" primaries.

However, given that I had no parental support really and very little motivation, I still came out with 4 Highers and 8 O grades (left after 5th year). I believe the school has gone from strength to strength since then too.

I also lived in Penicuik for a bit (kids were just babies though) and both High Schools had a good reputation. Catchment is very mixed and the town centre could be a bit grim but that didn't affect us at all as we were rarely in it. Transport into Edinburgh is excellent and loads to do in the countryside on your doorstep including skiing/snowboarding, golf, hillwalking etc

LittleCandle · 15/10/2015 14:01

Pastoral care was fantastic for the kids and DD2 blossomed there.

Roonerspism · 17/10/2015 03:17

Would love to know what Edinburgh schools you did your teaching placements at Cedric (I know you can't say Wink)

How do you feel about private? I'm not enthused about it. I am not sure private schools are a great idea and DH agrees but our local high just isn't good at all

lotrben17 · 17/10/2015 19:03

Sounds as though you need different schooling options for ds1 than ds2/3 more than this being a specific schooling comparison, very tricky. I can see that happening for us too. Both n Berwick and ea have v gd reputations, personally I think the commute would affect my quality of life as I've gotten used to not having one!

Stuart1435 · 19/12/2023 18:43

Don’t believe all the nonsense about North Berwick high school being as good as some of the expensive private schools.

My kids all went to North Berwick high school. Although the school is good, it’s not any better than schools
like the Ross High where I went as a kid.

What you will find is that if your kids naturally do well, they will get all the help they need and will likely do good in thier exams. If they struggle at all and need help through school, they will be encouraged to leave early, go to college or look for a job. They will also be told not to do their exam prelims and just do the final exam.

I have 2 kids who have done very well and one kid who need some extra support, and they we he has been treated is absolutely disgusting. The more people I speak to, the more I realise that this is not an isolated occurrence.

We thought, great! Our kids go to NB high school. It’s meant to be a really good
school!! When I’m reality, it only ranks good, because all the not so cleaver kids get encouraged out the door!

The school will look after your kids, providing they prove to be the perfect example students they need to keep their school ranking high on the score board!

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 20/12/2023 07:19

I think this is very common in ‘high ranking ‘ schools like NBH. Many have a policy that if you don’t pass the prelim you aren’t entered for the final exam and encouraged out the door to a ‘positive destination’ in order to maintain league table status. All is good until families come across this :(

Eightytwenty · 20/12/2023 08:20

Have kids at EA. Joined in the senior school. Lots of support for kids with additional needs. Brilliant support for academic kids. They take sport seriously and have some successes despite being a smaller school. Very strong school ethos with lots of fun activities and traditions. While expensive there is a ton of added value and we have found parents welcoming and inclusive.

TheTrees1 · 20/12/2023 20:09

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 20/12/2023 07:19

I think this is very common in ‘high ranking ‘ schools like NBH. Many have a policy that if you don’t pass the prelim you aren’t entered for the final exam and encouraged out the door to a ‘positive destination’ in order to maintain league table status. All is good until families come across this :(

Doesn't make a jot of difference to league tables. They are all based on S4 school roll for that year group.

CoatOfArms · 20/12/2023 20:56

This thread is EIGHT YEARS OLD.

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