Good Dundee Primary Schools - relocating

[tireddaddy17]

Hi All,

My wife and I are relocating to Dundee imminently for work (city centre based with some travel) and have heard that the West End and 'Ferry' are lovely places to live that are central enough.

Our question to you all is, we have two young daughters (twins) and have heard a lot of horror stories about the primary schools. Have any of you any recent experience of the primary schools in Dundee? Any recommendations? We have not set in stone where we will live yet, but want to be best placed for an enjoyable educational experience for the girls.

Many thanks!

What sort of "horror stories"

Barnhill, Forthill and Eastern primaries are all catchment for the east end of town, with the secondary being Grove academy.
I don’t know what kind of horror stories you’ve heard, but there are fewer (not none) social issues with the Ferry schools. My only issue is that Barnhill and Forthill have been “supersized” over recent years with about 750 on the school roll.
I know the head teacher of Eastern, and based on him alone, I’d put my kids to Eastern-he’s amazing and I’m pretty sure there have been attempts by other local authorities to poach him.

Friends of mine would second that opinion of the headteacher at Eastern. They thought very highly of him when he was at his previous school.

The Ferry is a pleasant place to live too.

@squarespecs we’ve known each other since we were 3 at playgroup and now ahem “over 50” and he’s one of the best people I know

What are you actually looking for in a school, a "good" school isn't just defined by its catchment area. Do you want a focus on attainment? Do you want a focus on extra curricular areas? Do you want the school to be nurturing and inclusive? Do you want the staff to be well looked after by the management team? It's nigh on impossible for all school to be all of these things so you really need to visit and see for yourself.

If the horror stories that you have heard have ever been published in the local papers I would definitely take them with a pinch of salt.