Edinburgh schooling for 5yr old

[kersland1]

Hi

Our family is moving to Edinburgh because of a job change,

Daughter currently goes to an all-girls school in London but is still in reception, so would be moving into P1 if we can get a space. That means hoping for a place to come up on one of the waiting lists.

Currently thinking of:

• George Heriot's - know family with v happy kids there, great reputation for academic excellence, but sports fields other side of town and not sure how long the waiting list is - next proper intake at P3

• St George's - like the idea of all-girls as there's evidence girls perform better in Stem subjects, on-site games fields, and location is a bonus, plus ability to do short-term boarding if required

and to mix things up...

• Loretto - amazing facilities, small class sizes and a family connection, but seems a heck of a long commute for the little one by school bus over the years, and will be harder for us to make social circle with other parents based outside the city

Have read every Mumsnet message board on the subject, but wondering if anyone can weigh in with some up-to-date local knowledge about these three choices and if we're missing something in our picks.

Many thanks

Those three schools are private schools. All three have very good reputations. Have you looked at the fees? Did you consider Fettes? It's in a great area of town.

Do you know whereabouts you will be staying? Will you be looking at somewhere near work, near school, or is that not important? Lots of people use public transport for work commutes within the city.

From my experience, many families choose to put the children into state school for the first few years, then move private at age7 or age11. You could consider this.

Reception is equivalent to primary 1 so it’s possible your child may in fact need to go into primary 2. The Scottish government website have details regarding the age cut off so you can clarify this.

James Gillespies always had a good reputation.

I can recommend St Georges. We have always found it to be inclusive and nurturing, high academic standards, but actually quite a relaxed school environment. Small class sizes, 18 is max we've ever had. Staff really do know the girls well. Lots of girls taking sciences at Higher and Adv Higher. All the usual sports and clubs (even classic car renovation!)
Mine have been very happy there and any (minor) issues we've had have been dealt with swiftly.
We chose it because of size and liked the 3 distinct parts to school, each with own Head.

All the Edinburgh private schools are very good and offer a similar education and experience. Most do Scottish Highers but a few do A Levels. Most families choose on size and location. Although Edinburgh is a small city don't underestimate crossing the city in rush hour!
It's such a shame you can't visit schools at the moment as that really does give you the best "feel" of a school.

Thank you. Some very good advice here.

I lived in Edinburgh for ages - and used to have to drive about continually - so v familiar with the traffic issues.

We haven't decided where to live yet, but edging towards Murrayfield (nice homes with small gardens and fairly close to new work) so St George's would be convenient.

Sootess - your experience is v reassuring. Any idea what chance there is of places becoming available (we're already on waiting list)? Do people put children down for more than one school causing places to open up close to start of term?

Thanks - there's so much to consider with a move like this, so really appreciate your insight.

Nb we did look at Fettes.

But heard it's focus is the borders, and you pay a lot but miss out as a dayschooler.

Plus harder to get to be part of a community if many parents not living nearby.

St G’s is lovely. Small school, friendly, academic but not pushy and supportive of those who need extra help. Positive feminist all girls environment. It also benefits from a Middle school (p6-s1) which handles the awkward transition from primary to secondary beautifully.
Unlikely to be a waiting list in the early years because they are trying to build up the numbers.

Thank you Sillydoggy.

We're on the waiting list but not sure how long it is. Hopefully not very long as thinking of buying a home locally too.

Oh that's a shame there's a waiting list @kersland1. St Georges usually has couple spaces in each class in junior school. However this year they're starting to take boys in P1-3 so that's why they'll be full. Brothers often go to Merchiston but they don't start until P4. Boys can already go to nursery at St. George's.

The Edinburgh private schools have an agreed week when they all send their offers out for P1 and S1. That was a couple months ago so unfortunately there won't be anyone waiting for another offer now.
Having said that there is always a lot of movement in private schools. Peoples circumstances change, have to move for jobs etc. My daughters, in upper school now, have had girls joining and leaving every year. I would just keep contacting them every few weeks to check the situation so they know you are still keen!

Good luck, it really is worth waiting for.

Thanks Sootless.

That's a shame to hear.

Would Mary Erskine be another good alternative do you think?

How about her local primary?

Mary Erskine is an excellent school with impressive facilities and great opportunities particularly for art and drama. I know several families there who are very happy.

However it's a much bigger school than St Georges, double the number children in a year group. Class sizes in junior school are larger too, if that's an issue for you.
Friends with children there wouldn't class the senior school as particularly nurturing.

They may have a waiting list too at this time of year.

Have you looked at or spoken to Cargilfield? Absolutely a school like no other.

My DD is currently at St.George’s (joined for 6th form having previously been at another boarding school to become a day girl) so I can’t comment on the junior provision but she has settled really well and has found the girls very welcoming, however, it doesn’t have the homely feel that was prevalent at Cargilfield which she attended until the end of form 8.
We looked at Loretto as an option for our DD for senior school but we felt the year groups were just too small to allow for friendship groups to flourish. I’m not sure if that is also the case in the junior years. Lots of travel too for a little one.

Would absolutely recommend Mary Erskine as an alternative to St George’s, though both excellent. Don’t be put off by the size, class sizes are still small enough to be nurturing and facilities are incredible.

Hi motherstongue

We have looked at Cargifield. But both I and my wife will be doing full time jobs in the centre without another family member able to help do pick-ups, and a bit concerned that the extra driving distance may prove a problem.

Would be much more convenient if we can do drop-offs by walking - we do at the moment where a 20-25min walk proves great exercise for our daughter as a bonus.

If longer distance was an option, we've considered Loretto as she would at least have cousins already there and could go back to her aunt at end of day as an option.

Re private schools - I think it's a personal choice. And what's she's used to - we want to make this move as smooth as possible for her.

DD is in the high school at Heriots and we really like it, but tbh I think it’s hard to go wrong with the Edinburgh day schools. We seriously considered St George’s and I think it has a lovely atmosphere. Our main concern is that their main interactions with boys when older is via Merchiston, which I think is a very traditional boys school and I would be surprised if there weren’t a lot of the issues that prominent boys schools often face - whereas as Heriots really focussed a lot of gender equality, treating people with respect, etc., and I felt she would have more positive interactions with the Heriots boys. I wouldn’t consider Loretto if you’ll be in Murrayfield, the journey will be a nightmare. If you were somewhere more towards Leith then maybe. Fettes is so international, I wouldn’t choose it for a local kid. It is very high security as they have a lot of very wealthy kids.

Thanks Lockdownennui

Your point about living location is a good one.

Tbh all the schools mentioned above look wonderful, and we'd be lucky to be accepted by any one. But this has all happened so late in the school year the worry is not getting a space at all.

Suppose we now just have to wait to see which school offers a spot first, unless I'm missing another option? (I have the fallback of being able to split time between Edinburgh and London until she has a place to move into. But would be great not to have to do that commute. )

Hey! Depending on when her bday is she might be going into p2, id speak to the admissions teams at the schools. My daughter is starting in Heriots p1 in aug (age 4)- I think edinburgh has a great choice of schools so you can’t really go wrong but I personally didn’t want to go down the all girl route and Heriots size I liked. The sports grounds I don’t think you need to worry about until p5 as they do have a bus service to the main school or I think ppl share. It’s hard atm as you can’t physically visit but all have good videos on their websites.

And not as, they don’t go to the sports ground until p5 +

Thanks firefly88

Spoke to parents with kids there this weekend and playing fields is indeed less of an issue than feared. The trip from school to grounds is by school bus so it's just a matter of pick-up after - which is still sorted by school if they do after hours activities.

Now just a matter of trying to get a place...

The other obvious private school you've not mentioned is George Watsons. I'm guessing your possible home location is a major factor in. It considering it but if circumstances change, it's also worth looking at.

Don't let the size of the school put your off - it almost did for us! The nursery and lower primary (P1-3) is almost like a mini school but they are integrated into the wider school. Same with Upper Primary (P4-P7). We have two dc there, have both been from P1 and now in P4 and P7 and we could not be happier. The junior school head teacher Mr Salmond is excellent. Fully involved and I swear knows all the kids names, or does a v good job of convincing he does. Despite the size of the school, I def feel as if my children are recognised and treated very individually and not just one of many.

And of course all facilities are in one site which does make things easier, esp if they are sporty.

But to echo what others have said, we're lucky to have a plethora of fantastic private schools here in Edinburgh and you really can't go far wrong. At the time of looking, we also liked Heriots and Mary Erskines but it was GWC that just felt the better fit for us.

Hi all.

A final update.

We accepted a place at ESMS after being offered a place there and at St George's. Both looked like being fantastic schools, and though v different, choosing one over the other proved to be v difficult.

Thank you to everyone who took part in this thread for your advice.