Moving to an Edinburgh secondary mid-year

[runningoutofnewnames]

We're looking at moving to Edinburgh later this year, so we'll have to apply for schools for the DC outside of the usual admissions process.

I'm used to the English system and DP's knowledge of the Scottish system is about 30 years out of date!

Can anyone help me understand how it works in practice? I know schools try to find a place in the catchment school, but what if it's full? Do you have to then any other one they suggest?

Will the schools (or the council?) let me know if they have spaces if I call them and ask how oversubscribed they are at the moment, before I've even moved?

Hopefully we'll move by the summer. If the DC start after the holiday, my eldest will be going into S3. My younger DC is is primary age.

DS has a December birthday, so might there be an option of him going into S2 instead

I understand I Scotland you can request to hold back a year when they're starting primary, but does that work for in year admissions also? Would we be able to look for spaces in both S2 and S3? (Would it be up to the school?).

Any help navigating this would be much appreciated, thanks!

Just checking - is your DS 13 now? S2's in Edinburgh are picking their subjects for S3 now, so that's something to be aware of.

Not 100% sure on mid year moves, but schools should be able to tell you directly if they have places, although the council won't place you till you have moved.

Someone with more knowledge than me will come along on catchment rules.

For primary, they are definitely pretty good ime about putting the child in the right year taking into the school system they have come from.

Yes, he's 13 now.

I'm thinking it'd probably be better for him to go into S2 in August, but is that something we'd actually have a choice over?

Kicking myself we didn't do the move earlier

I certainly know a few people that have moved to Scotland from elsewhere and the schools have happily tweaked what year they've gone into, but that was in primary school. December birthdays can defer though, so I don't think it would be too hard to push for an S2 entry to allow time to get to grips with Scottish curriculum.

Am I right in thinking he's currently in his second year of secondary school in England already rather than third? My concern would be about getting bored in S2 if if feels like it is repeating work/behind where he might be at already. Although maybe new school, some different subjects etc might all help. Have you got any idea of where you might move to in Edinburgh?

My DS is in S2 now and just turned 14, so one year older than your DS. if your DS went into S2 in August he would be old for the year but not by much. If he went into S3 he would be amongst the youngest, especially boys, since lots of Edinburgh January and February babies are deferred. Technically anyone from September could have been deferred since it is not compulsory to start school before age 5.

I would definitely ask for an S2 place to adjust to the new system, if there is a place there should be no reason why you can't take it as your DS is born within the legal age range for that year.

Every address in Scotland has a catchment school (well 2 actually, 1 non-denominational and 1 catholic)
You can contact catchment school for your new address directly to enquire about places but you cannot apply until you have proof of address.
If school is full then child's name will be put on their waiting list and Edinburgh council can advise you which schools have spaces. But you can also approach other schools yourself.

A lot of the private schools In Edinburgh follow the English system if that would be an option

If he's academically able let him go into s3. From my experience of state school (Glasgow ) s1 and s2 have really low expectations work wise. My kids were so bored till got to s3 and school became more interesting. My 2 had basically checked out - no homework, no exams, no pushing them on.
It's he struggles at all deferring him is a good option though.
Scottish schooling system is so different from the rest of the U.K. it's all very chilled. Minimal testing until s3. Wonderful if you child is anxious but not so good if they need pushed on a bit.
S3 ramps up a good bit but still not half the pressure the English kids are exposed to.
Overall I do think it's more fully inclusive and do many options for the kids as they move into the senior years too.

@chocolateorangemilk makes some good points OP. I have an able, but bored S2 who has previously really enjoyed school but now can't wait to start S3 and concentrate on preferred subjects. There's not been a huge amount of homework or anything so far in what is one of Edinburgh's well performing and popular state schools.

Yes, he's currently in the second year of secondary.

He's very bright - does well at science, history and English, quite well at maths. He struggles in languages and PE. He's high functioning autistic.

Mostly his ASD doesn't affect his schooling too much, but he can find himself in trouble with teachers who mistake his uncompromisingly honest, ASD-style delivery of what he thinks for insolence / answering back and sometimes we need support from the SENCO to remind them that he's on the spectrum and missing social cues, not deliberately being rude. He's flourishes with teachers who are passionate about their subjects (same as most DC I expect).

I worry about the change to the curriculum though, if it's very different, maybe an extra year to adjust to the new system will be a good thing?

If the kids take their S3 choices in S2, and we don't make it there till the summer, does that mean DS would be stuck with whatever was left and maybe not able to take his favourite subjects?

@MissM2912

A lot of the private schools In Edinburgh follow the English system if that would be an option

Thanks, but we're looking for state, non-denominational - private's not an option.

It doesn't mean he'd be stuck with whatever is left but there may be certain subjects that are full that he would not be able to choose.

There is usually some formula too it, for example they would need to take:
Maths
English
1 language
1 science
1 social subject
Then with the spaces left it would be choice from subjects like music, art, pe, home economics, computing, graphics or another science etc. There are the ones that might be full and another option would need to be taken from that column. Most schools do 8 subjects on S3.

You may need to negotiate strongly with the council for them to allow S2 entry.

I can say with 100% certainty that he'll choose as many extra sciences as possible plus computing. He'd be gutted if he couldn't do them. Will need to keep everything crossed I guess.

DD is in S2 and choosing subjects now. We’re in a different area but she has to take Maths and English, 1 science, 1 social science, 1 language and then choose another 3 subjects. The way it’s structured you could choose 3 sciences or 2 sciences and computing.

Different schools and different councils have different ways of doing things though. It’s worth contacting the schools you are considering to find out more. DDs school has the booklet and form on the website.

Thanks cazzg, that's useful. What's your deadline for choosing, will it all be long done and dusted by the summer?

Timetables change after the exams in May, so S2 will move onto begin their S3 courses in June, so yes choices will be long completed by next academic year.

We're in Edinburgh @runningoutofnewnames and choices are to be submitted later this month and finalised by March.

As others have said - maths, English, language, science, social science then choose three from a range of subjects - drama, PE, music etc, options to pick up second language/science/social science and some new subjects such as economics, engineering science etc. what's available will depend on the school though.