Edinburgh Private Schools for sporty S2 girl

[Hoodie88]

My friend is exploring private school options for her S2 daughter for the next academic year. Would you recommend moving a child at this stage? What are your daughters experiences in a “girls only” schools? Her daughter is very sporty. Thanks for any experiences you can share.

Hi Watson's is very sporty so your DD might fit in - lots of different activities. Not sure about starting in S2 have no experience of it, but would probably work ok as there's a lot of friend shifting and so forth in the first couple of years.

We have a DD at St Gs, albeit a bit younger. Certainly plenty of sport on offer; mine isn't that way inclined but there are loads of opportunities for those who are.

St George’s is fab. I had two who attended (one would now be S2)- they are a lovely year group, lots of nice mums too. Highly recommend.

If it's single sex then she's looking at Mary Erskine or St George's.
I have personal experience of St George's and we are very happy with it and it's nurturing, inclusive environment. I know families who are very happy at MES.

Both are excellent schools and do lots of sport, great sporting facilities, lots of clubs.
I would say MES is probably the more sporty school of the 2. However because it's a bigger school the girls don't always get to play in the teams every week, whereas St George's if they want to play there's a place.

In terms of academics they're pretty much of a muchness. MES may be slightly more academically selective but the results at the end are pretty similar. Both offer extensive range of subjects.
Class size in St George is about 16-18 and I think MES is similar.

S2 is pretty good time to start St George's as they move from middle school to Upper school at that point and there will be others joining. MES she would be reliant on place being available, but there's always a fair bit of movement in the Edinburgh private schools due to families moving for work.

The main difference in the 2 is size and the associated pros/cons.
St George's has approx 70 in a year in secondary and MES it's about 120.

Late to this.

I only have direct experience of MES. I’d say at the moment the culture isn’t great actually. I know young teen girls can be absolutely foul, but it seems to be worse than usual at MES.
If your friend does consider MES, insist on a taster day and get the girl to do a really good job of listening out for wider conversations. Our personal experience is that there is a lot of ‘did we ask?’ every time someone speaks and so on.

Class sizes are 21 at MES in S1 and S2. Same in St George’s from what I’ve been told.