Edinburgh primary schools

[Dunrobin]

Posted in Primary Education but didn't get much in the way of replies, so trying again here!

Hi, anyone here in Edinburgh with current knowledge of primary schools? We have just moved to Edinburgh for work. Currently renting in Stockbridge but will be looking to buy (though scared by Edinburgh house prices!) and primary schools are a major factor in the decision where to look. Eldest DC is nursery age. At the moment we are in catchment for Stockbridge Primary or St Mary's RC Primary. DC are baptised Catholic so hopefully either should be an option. Would anyone recommend one over the other? Neither seems to have a current care report that I can find online.

Also wondering about Flora Stevenson's, though we're not currently in catchment for them. Anyone know how admissions work the City of Edinburgh Music School at P1 level? The link to admissions info seems to be broken on their website.

Or does anyone have experience of the Gaelic school, especially as a non Gaelic speaking parent? Interested in the possibility of gaining an additional language, though DH is not convinced we could support DC adequately.

We'd be hoping to go private at secondary so secondary catchments less of an issue. I doubt we could afford it for primary as though, especially with house prices the way they are.

I'm on the other side of town, but niece started at Flora's, DB & DSIL were happy with it, found parents and children a bit clique-y, but suspected that was a year group thing. They moved as they thought the catchment high school offered limited options subject wise. Something like you couldn't take two sciences, might be wrong about the detail there, but you're planning for private high anyway.

I've only heard positive things about Floras but don't know it well. It's got a "good" catchment area so should attract the naice families and if you lived in that catchment you'd be well located for Stew Melville, Mary Erskine, St George's, Fettes and EA for secondary schools.
Having read a post recently about someone who's daughter had started at a welsh speaking primary school and the parents didn't speak the language I think I would hesitate to send them to the gaelic school.

Thank you both for the replies. Regarding Flora's, I might have misunderstood the report by the sound of things - it said it was in the 9th and 10th deciles on the deprivation index which I assumed meant it was flagging that the catchment was in an area of high deprivation, but maybe it meant the opposite! It did say there had been a period of a lot of instability and lack of leadership before the new head had arrived, but the most recent report is from 2018 so not that current. I love the idea of the music side of things at Flora's, but no idea how hard it is to get a place at the music school there.

DH is concerned about Gaelic medium education for the same reason emmathedilemma. I also don't know whether it would be hard to transition out of a Gaelic speaking primary into an English medium secondary. That's probably the wild card on the list tbh, though I did find the possibility of learning another language quite attractive.

If you go on espc website you can search for properties by school catchment area. Floras is definitely not what I would call a deprived area!! espc.com/properties?school=5523826&view=map&minbeds=3plus&minprice=150000&maxprice=900000&ptype=house&underoffer=true&pid=36070387
I suspect low percentile is low deprivation. See it says for somewhere like Craigroyston primary or Forthview primary as they will definitely be high deprivation catchments.

Oh that is a really helpful search tool to know about, thank you.

Is it the case in Edinburgh that living in catchment basically = get a place in the school even if it is popular? We have moved from abroad so I'm still not familiar with how everything works, but I gather that in England you can be in catchment and still not get a place in your preferred school if it is oversubscribed. Not sure about Edinburgh.

@Dunrobin you are entitled to a place at your catchment school no matter what

Wow that is good to know, thanks YerAWizardharry. Does it not happen that some schools get very oversubscribed?

Now looking quite likely that we may have to rent until after eldest DC is in school and won't be in a position to buy immediately. All a bit of a headache with school applications.

You've got your deciles the wrong way round OP. 10 is the top.

Both my DCs went through Floras. Is a good school, quite big and a fairly mixed catchment, with a fair few going to Mary Erskines or Stewarts Melville around P4 or5.
Sorry, don't know about Music School entry, but there were lots of musical opportunities for all pupils.
As said, Decile 10 is the top, Floras is definitely not in a deprived area, which doesn't mean no issues, as with any school.

You need to be living in the catchment by a certain date in the year for a guaranteed place the following year though. If you move mid-year they'll give you a place but it could be anywhere.

St Mary’s website looks ok now - formal auditions are by invitation in Feb and April after application and advisory audition. From the site:

‘Application Process for Instrumentalists, Composers and Singers - age 9 to 19

Entry to St Mary’s Music School is the same for all years and age-groups and is based on musical ability and potential. We will consider instrumentalists, singers and composers.

We accept pupils from Primary 5 (age 9 to 10) through to the Sixth Form (up to age 18). New pupils can enter the school in all years.

If you wish to apply you should propose two instruments or specialisms for your first and second study. We accept applications from those who only have one instrument, however if this is the case then once you are at school here, a second study will be indentified in consultation with you, the Director of Music and your parents/guardians.

For those interested in singing, there are two possible routes into the school, either as a 9 year old day pupil (chorister pathway) or as an instrumentalist (day or boarding) aged typically 13 and above.’

Thanks, it's good to have the positive feedback on Flora's.

Think that is actually a different St Mary's from the one I was looking at, Fingerbobs. The one I was looking at is a state Catholic primary. I think the website you were looking at is for a private music school. It does look interesting but they don't make their fees very clear, and I think they don't take pupils until they are quite a bit older.

Good to know about the catchment schools. I can see that potentially being a bit of a pain if we end moving areas mid year, but it's still good to know the spots are guaranteed and it's not a total lottery.

Resurrecting thread to ask: does anyone who understands the system know if you can lose your place at a catchment school if you move out of catchment after DC have started there?

Yes, if you move out of catchment then you would have to apply with a placing request or leave.

I've known a number of children move and stay at the school. Never been aware of them having to apply for an out of catchment placing request or been asked to leave.

Likewise, I've known a lot of people who have moved out of catchment but am not aware that any of them had any problems as a result provided their kids had already started at the school.

You do not need to leave a school if you move out of catchment after your child has started at the school. However, it's worth bearing in mind that if you have younger children who haven't yet started school, having a sibling in the school won't guarantee you a place. Also, going to a feeder primary school won't guarantee you a place in a high school if you're not in the catchment. I know you mentioned private for secondary, but it's worth being aware of just in case things don't go according to plan.

Thank you. That's good to hear - I'm keen to avoid disrupting DC as much as possible. But admittedly I hadn't thought of the younger sibs issue and a dual school run would not be ideal!

We moved our DS mid-primary school. It was disruptive, but it did mean local friends, being able to walk to school with friends in P6/P7 etc. You miss out on that if you've moved to a different area (and yes two DC in different primary schools would be a nightmare).