Schools in midlothian, east lothian and scottish borders

[WhatsTheKerfuffle]

Hi, yes I know, not very specific house or school hunting! There isn't a lot on the housing market just now and our move area isn't fixed - we just need a nice house and school combo. We have 8y and 11y old children so need primary and secondary schooling, but focusing more on the secondary school for now.

Current favourite schools are North Berwick, Wallace, Peebles, Knox and Lasswade because we either liked the area when we started house hunting or houses have popped up and we've dug into the school websites a bit. I asked about Bridge of Allan and North Berwick in my other post, so they are still up there as contenders, just no houses coming up that suit us.

Can you please share views on these schools if you've got children there now or they've recently left. So hard to get a sense from websites, but some come across really well - love the Dream, Believe, Achieve banner for Lasswade for example. All of those schools listed feel like they are strong on the nurturing and recognising the strengths of all children so great to know if your children do get that or it doesn't quite happen the way the website implies.

We did look at James Gillespies too, but that sounds like it runs a waiting list and just didn't feel so 'soft' (ie more academic and my daughter is a more of a creative soul, right now), so if we moved into catchment we may not even get a place - I also think I'd rather the children looked at green fields, but who knows what they'd prefer as they grow up! Right now, they are all for country living, but think we want somewhere that's in a community (not a new build estate) with shops nearby, but it's a bit of a longer trip to the nearest big city or town.

If anyone has thoughts on areas to hunt in around those schools that would be great too!

Thanks so much,
Miranda

I have a friend with connections to lasswade and she rates it a lot. Very good holistically.

I have heard Peebles isn’t so good with pastoral care right now.

Knox and N Berwick both good and East Lothian is lovely.

Thanks @Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow that’s good to know re both Peebles and Lasswade. Are Peebles too focused on academics from what you’ve heard? I see some of the school improvement plans speak about more focus on wellbeing and inclusion so, quite rightly, there is a bigger focus on that than ever during inspections, so that has to be good news, if it’s done well.

To be fair it was individual stories which isn’t never the best way as you will hear good and bad about any school

Scottish education is sadly nothing like it used to be. So if you can go private the do! We haven’t and are having to get tutors. Education under the SNP is a disaster

Peebles was badly damaged in a fire last year, they are due a new school by 2025 but that will be well into your 11 year old's high schooling.

Thanks @1000umbrellas I’d heard about the fire and wasn’t sure when the new school was due.

Ah @Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow I thought the new curriculum sounded good as I still thought it was all standard grades. I thought I was escaping the tutor mentality/need if we moved to Scotland as it’s rife round here and not something I really wanted to continue or get caught up in. Very sad to hear. Any schools where teaching is strong and tutors aren’t the expected thing?

My work takes me into schools across the lothians (although not teaching but I deal with pastrol/guidance teams).

North Berwick is a brilliant all rounder. I have not had good expierences with Knox and Lasswade, both are quite focused on, academics, reputation of the school, uniform, conduct etc but when you dig a big deeper the nurturing and wellbeing aspect is lacking. It depends what you're looking for really. If it's a results driven school then maybe they are for you. Lasswade is has great campus facilties.

In your search area I would also consider Dunbar Grammar.

I have no expierence of Peebles or Wallace.

@Invisimamma

I have sent a pm to ask about a particular school

@Invisimamma thanks - that’s v helpful. Always good to hear from people who have work experience as well as parents views. What was lacking in nurturing at Lasswade and Knox? Did it feel like tick box attention rather than truly trying to get to know each child to get the best experience for them at the school?

I want a school that challenges children to do their very best by motivating them to rise to a achieve goals that stretch them and then encouraging them to do even more. Any school that almost writes off children too early and just lets them languish in the lower levels of nationals and doesn’t dig deep to help them shine and move up the levels would be failing. My daughter isn’t so academic, at this point, but she tries and, if encouraged and coached a bit, she will keep striving to better her outcomes and then that feeling of pride helps her want to achieve more.

North Berwick shines out really well and I spoke with one of the deputy heads recently and that was all positive. Just no houses we like for sale and such a fast market especially when stuck in England (now with a child who has been told today to self isolate all half term break because someone in her class tested positive today)

Thanks so much for the input!

Oh, and since our search area isn’t too restricted, have you worked at any other schools which you found strong on nurturing (and also preferably with a decently wide curriculum offering) ?