Aberdeen- Mile End or Private for primary

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We moved about a couple of years ago to Aberdeen and love it here. Bought a house within the catchment area for Mile End school. DD starting school next year. We don't know many people in the local area but have heard great things about Mile End. We've been there for community events and it looks lovely open and bright.

DD is an only child and we'd like to give her the best education possible (as every parent would). She attends nursery 3 days a week. She's quite shy, timid and very small for her age. Myself and DH worry that she may get lost in the crowd at school. Would going private mean smaller class numbers and more attention?

We've looked at St Margret school for girls and Robert Gordon. Like both.

Anyone has any experience with either? Many Thanks

Is Mile End still a feeder school for Aberdeen Grammar?

If she’s academically bright, she’ll do as well at Mile End and AGS as at either of the private schools right through.

If she’s more arty/sporty or could benefit from more support academically, then go the private route.

Mile End is still a feeder for Aberdeen Grammar. I really don't know how to gauge how academic she is now. She's very quiet at nursery but they tell us she is within normal for language and development.

Mile End is a really good primary. So good I think you need a reason to go private like specialist tuition or facilities. There are unlikely to be any problems because e.g. your DD is small at Mile End.

Very common in Aberdeen for people to go to private secondary after state primary, so it’s not forever.

However, if you want to go private for primary do so from nursery.

If you do go private, Gordon’s has a much better reputation than the other private schools really. So unless St Maragret’s is because you’re considering single sex, if you go private, choose Gordon’s.

But really, I would say Mile End is really good.

Thank you very much for your reply. DD in private nursery now. We know one family who's DC went to Mile End primary and they wanted to send to private for secondary. The DC refused to leave friends from primary but now both parents and DC regret decision. ( I'm not sure of reasons entirely).

Good to hear about Mile End. I understand it's silly to worry about her being small. She was preterm still tiny and so very timid.

We will have another think about this. Thanks

I wouldn’t think it was silly to worry about her smallness at every primary school. Just I don’t think Mile End is one where it’d be an issue. It’s pretty civilised.

Might be an idea to find out those reasons?

I think the reasons given were that the secondary had students from varied social backgrounds and DC found it difficult to fit in. Or to that effect. Also DC very talented musician and think they'd might have better opportunities in private school.

The music takes you back to “what are your DD’s strengths” kind of consideration.

The varied social backgrounds could,go either way. Do you think it’s an unnecessary challenge to have to fit in with people from varied social backgrounds or do you think it’s something that will come in useful life.

To some extent, there will be people from varied social backgrounds at Gordon’s too. Their bursary scheme is extensive. A lot of kids also travel,in from the surrounding area so there is a mix of town/rural.

St Margaret’s might be a bit more sheltered.

Thanks Fourfox. I honestly don't know what my DD s strengths are right now.. she's still so young. I would like her to have the best in education and exposure to extra curricular activities so she can explore what she is good at.

I probably explained myself badly with varied social backgrounds. The family I was talking is very conservative and would have liked their DC to have made friends from similar backgrounds and feel DC doesn't fit in at the secondary.

I personally have no issues with whatever social background students are from. As I mentioned before I think from what I can judge from my child so far she'll probably do well in small groups with more one to one attention. Hence Was wondering if private school would be better.

Mile End is a five minute walk away so would be convenient and we work right opposite as well. Thanks again.

A friend used to work at Mile-End until recently and spoke very highly of it.

I went to St Margaret’s (primary) and found it a bit constricting. But that was a long-time ago!

Gordon’s is easily the best regarded school in the vicinity.

Ahh! I went to all girls school too and hated it.

I went to Aberdeen Grammar for secondary and liked it much better, academically and socially, Gordon’s was boys only then.

I went to RG when they went coed and on a doors open day went back for a visit with a couple of friends from school. Im not sure I’d send my dc there just a personal perspective really. I didn’t get the impression it was as well rounded as I’d like for primary I guess it felt a little hot housing for the senior school. It’s hard to articulate what didn’t sit right. I’d looked at album for ds when we were still in Aberdeen. It had been a girls school when I was there but I had friends with boys there who had spoken highly of it.
If I was back in Aberdeen and choosing between Mile End and private it pick Mile End all the way. It’s a great school with a fantastic reputation and I just feel you get a little more all round from it than you would at one of the private schools in town. At secondary both ds and dd would probably have been sent private though.

Visit the schools, look around, see where your child would be happiest and choose that one.

Live in the Shire but work in the city - would agree Mile End is well regarded and Aberdeen Grammar is also.

We considered going private for secondary but felt the money would be better spent on providing wider educational experiences - e.g travel, theatre trips, music lessons . Also felt it useful for dc to have experience of mixing with wider social range of people. Bear in mind too that many parents of private school children "top up" with additional tuition.

I can’t comment on private schools, but my nephew is at Mile End and he loves it. My sister also used to volunteer there before taking a post at another school. It’s a fantastic school with loads of opportunities for kids. I wouldn’t hesitate to choose it.