Moving to near Livingston

[Mollysri20]

We plan to move to Edinburgh after lock down since DH got a job, have an eyes to live near Livingston. I have a 16.5 year old girl ( year 11 currently & sitting GCSE's) and an 15 year old boy( year 10 currently). We are thinking about St Margaret High School. DD will be in S6 and I am a bit worried about the differences system and this may make the move difficult. They are also love playing sport like football. Is there any team for girls or boy I can make contact with? I don't mind they can try other sports with other teens. Hope to hear some advice, thanks.

The 2 systems are completely different and may be incompatible Im afraid. I had looked into it the other way round. Schools here are not going back until August. Your kids birthdays will determine what year they go into here.

That's a tricky stage to make the move from England to Scotland. Your DD would ld be best in S5 and your DS in S4 but their ages might not allow for that. If I am honest I would suggest staying in England with your DC and your DH finding somewhere to rent near Edinburgh for while until your DC have finished their schooling. We did an opposite thing where we stayed in Scotland and my DH worked in Manchester during the week.

Someone said school is flexible, I wouldn't mind she will go to S5 and have time finding friends and preparing exam. Any idea how St' Margaret HC performance? I tempted to try Linlithgow school but afraid it will be no space anyway.

I have read in this forum that some school already moved up pupil and set the subjects in May-June. Will we be late? No chance to view the house or move during lock down yet.

Schools here started their new timetable 1st June (Edinburgh/Livingston). They go back 11th August and then mocks (or prelims as we call them) are in December/January.

Sorry beginning May not June!!

Has your daughter already sat her GSCEs or would she have sat this year had they not been cancelled? If her GSCEs would have been this year then she'd be S5. Scottish Highers are 1 year courses as opposed to A levels which are 2. I would be concerned about DS moving mid exam courses

I don't know about St Margrets but Linlithgiw Academy us a very good school. My husband went there many years ago. His 3 neices/nephews are there now. Though the oldest has technically left and is off to uni

HollyBen

I know it's a good school and wish to apply my DC there coz they are bright kids. Just afraid there are long waiting list, or should I try!! My DD suppose to do GCSE this year but she will get calculated grade instead, most subjects will be 8 or 9, judging from her school record.

St Margarets is fine for bright kids, in terms of support they can be lacking but only you'll know how much the kids are likely to need. Due to being a religious school the catchment is different so there'll be a bit more flexibility there.

St Margaret’s is usually oversubscribed and it’s a catholic school so much bigger catchment area, but they prioritise children that are baptised and practising catholics.

I think it's standard practice to apply to your catchment school but there is no reason you can't submit a placing request for anywhere you'd like, you might be lucky since you'd be applying for Upper year's rather than S1. You'd need to be prepared that you might get offered places in different schools for your DC.

What month are their birthdays and how old will they be next birthday?

Thanks for some advices. They are in Catholoic school at the moment. I will apply for school asap after getting a house, hope they will have something to revise online before school open in August.