ESMS or St George's? EDINBURGH

[Trio80]

Hello,
We have a daughter currently in p2, in a state primary but looking to move her to one of these schools. She's capable but can lack confidence so we are weighing up the best fit. I would be very grateful to hear what experiences/info you might have for these two schools.
Thank you!

DD is at St. George’s but only moved this year for 6th form so I have no direct experience of the junior school. Many of DD friends though have come completely through the school from Nursery and they have all loved it. I think something you need to consider is whether or not you would prefer your DD to do the English curriculum at St.George’s for GCSEs or follow the Scottish curriculum at ESMS.

I know you haven’t asked for other options but for a child lacking in confidence I would also seriously look at Cargilfield Prep as both my DC attended there and it was a really wonderful nurturing place.

Friends at St. George's have found it to be very supportive and inclusive. On the other hand, friends at esms say it's pushy and very competitive. I guess it depends on your child's nature. Are you set on single sex?

We moved our dc to st g for similar reasons, very happy with it. Looked round ESMS years ago but no other experience of it, for us, the fact st g is smaller dominated heriots or esms for our children.

The pastoral care the most important factor to us over single sex or type of final exam considerations. My daughter used to hate PE and dread it because she's not especially sporty and the teachers have been so encouraging that she enjoys it now.

The wraparound care staff are fantastic too.

Thank you so much for your responses. Really appreciate the info!
Single sex is not a deal breaker for us (although I'm becoming more convinced it will suit my Dd).
I have heard great things about cargilfield but we were hoping for an all-through school.
I am leaning towards St George's as I think Dd would benefit from a gentler, more supportive touch.
ESMS, however, is a great school and we loved all the facilities, activities and opportunities. I do wonder how St George's compares on that front?
I am very grateful for all your insights, thank you!

Can only comment on the senior school at ESMS. Dd loved her time there and thrived academically. She was very much a STEM girl and is studying maths at uni. I think for her the single sex element gave her the confidence to pursue this. In sixth form it's back to co ed and she did really enjoy this, the subjects she took in 6 th form were boy dominated but she had confidence in her own ability and had a lovely mixed group of friends. Lots of extra curricular activities on offer, def something for everyone.
As others have said it depends on your own child one size does definitely not fit all.

I have a DD at St G - moved for start of P5 and absolutely thrived. Small classes, lots of activities...for her it's been a great move.

Hello, me again...
Very grateful for all responses, particularly as we can't visit the schools at the moment. We really are no closer to a decision - a sign that both schools are brilliant. They are very different though.
I'm intrigued to know what St G's is like at secondary level? Is there quite a lot of academic pressure?
I'm also very interested to hear from anyone with experience of ESMS schools. How do/did you find it being a larger school?

All independent schools have a level of academic --pressure expectation, as 95% of leavers go straight on to university.
However we’ve found St G is not hugely academically selective and probably takes wider range of abilities than some other Edinburgh schools.
Couple of DD friends were turned down for other schools at S1 entry but have done very well at St G.
We’ve found it to be nurturing. inclusive and, because of smaller size, staff know all the girls.. Full choice of subjects, even if only 1 or 2 taking a subject the course will run.

We were keen on school which values child no matter how they turn out academically. We checked transition up through school was automatic and not dependent on level of achievement (have family member who fell foul of this policy in their school!)

Class sizes are small ( max DD has ever had is 18) and year groups get bigger as you move up school (about 70 by 6th form)

MES is also great school with impressive facilities and results but it is much larger.

Hi, my daughter joined ESMS at the primary school stage (P6). One of the reasons we moved her was because she was labelled as being quiet and lacking confidence. Therefore, she was not encouraged to do things that would take her out of her comfort zone. When she joined the Junior School at ESMS, she was given the opportunity to join clubs, orchestras, sports teams as there were no preconception of her personality. She did find it a bit challenging in her first term but settled in, took up a musical instrument, played hockey in the B team and made good friends (girls and boys). Academically, she progressed very well and I think benefited from the single sex element of the senior school. In S6 she enjoyed having classes again with the boys she knew in P6/P7. I have been happy with the school and my daughter enjoyed her time there.