Best areas to live in Aberdeen

[scotsmama]

Looking for a bit of advice as I don't know Aberdeen well, as as work will be very flexible I can pretty much choose my location as long as it's not too far to commute to the centre.

Based on my research west Aberdeen - cults, Peterculter, banchory - sound good. I also heard good things about Bridge of Don and Inverurie.

Any help appreciated. I have children who are nursery/primary age but I want to move in the catchment area for a good school. Any feedback on the schools in these areas?

TIA!

Between Holburn Street and Queens Road/Albyn Terrace as long as you are west of Albyn Grove and east of Anderson Drive.

That would get you into catchments of Aberdeen Grammar School or Harlaw. AGS is better than Harlaw, but Harlaw is pretty decent and might actually be better for some children (I.e. bright but a bit shy, or more creative)

But then I wouldn’t live anywhere in the Shire for love nor money so I’m not the most balanced view tbf. Even Cults and BoD seem like the sticks to me.

@Aurea Banchory Academy was 39th in 2021. Not to be sniffed at but not top 10. Aboyne, Westhill, Grammar and Cults all currently “outrank” it (although of course these sort of things should always be taken with a pitch of salt)

CatKittyCatCatKittyCatCat

I’m another one that would not live in the Shire for love nor money, very nice for day trips but not for me. I’m a toonser that’s for sure!!

In 2019 (before teacher assessed grades)

The High schools around Aberdeen ranked in Scotland:

Banchory Academy 13th
Aberdeen Grammar School 15th
Cults Academy 16th
Westhill Academy 21st
Old Machar Academy 25th
Mackie Academy 31st
Kemnay Academy 45th
Mearns Academy 51st
Aboyne Academy 56th
Alford Academy 99th
Ellon Academy 106th
Inverurie Academy 107th
Etc.......

Now compare them to 2020 and you'll see the wild inconsistencies.

Sorry. Asked for my earlier post to be removed in case it was identifying.

This is the gist of it:

YerAWizardHarry

The league tables from 2020 were wildly inconsistent from previous years due to teachers awarding grades with no exams.

Some schools shot up the league table 30 or 40 places depending on how generous teachers were. 40% of pupils got a grade A at higher! Other schools were more realistic in their grade allocation.

Historically Banchory Academy has regularly featured in the top ten in Scotland. In 2019 they were 13th.

I agree with Aurea re the blip in the league tables for the last 2 years. From my experience Mackie Academy in Stonehaven has frequently been in the top 50 in Scotland but does sometimes slip lower than that based on exam results. My kids were happy there.
In my historic experience they mark pupils down rather than up. I know of a couple of pupils who have gone to Oxbridge from there and others to St Andrews, and pretty much all other Scottish Universities.

@Nanalisa60

This is soooooo helpful! Thank you. They are the secondary schools that I thought were best. Although I have heard a few things about Cults - the stabbing incident etc. Although I know you can't judge the whole school based on that.

RE comments on budget - I've had a look on aspc and my budget can stretch to any of these areas, it just means I'll get a bit less space than I'd like in the more expensive places.

We live in the west end, mannofield area and really like it. Very residential so a community feel and a few little coffee shops etc. and although it’s a bit of a trek we can walk into town if required. Can’t really comment on schools, our DD is just nursery age but friends happy with those roundabout.

This is soooooo helpful! Thank you. They are the secondary schools that I thought were best. Although I have heard a few things about Cults - the stabbing incident etc. Although I know you can't judge the whole school based on that.

Don’t judge Cults Academy on that incident - the boy in question had a long history of issues (there had been incidents at primary), and the SLT has changed since then.

The facilities are very good (school was built in 2009) and the nature of the catchment means that families take education seriously.