Schooling options in Dollar

[Samdeniel]

Hello, we are considering a move to Dollar and I am keen for some opinions/information on schooling there. My eldest is currently at an Independent and others at the local state. Dollar Academy would be the obvious option but I would love to know what the local primary is like and the state secondary which is Alva Academy. Do most go to Dollar academy from the state primary? I am keen to understand if there is a divide in the area of those that go to Dollar/those that don’t? Bonus points if anyone knows what Dollar is like for dyslexic children/support for learning-after speaking to admissions I don’t feel hugely confident compared to current situation. Thank you so much to anyone that can assist/point me in the right direction of some information. Many thanks!

Alva is the best state secondary school in Clacks. Albeit there only 3. It has a decent reputation. Entry to senior school from a variety of state and independent primaries is pretty common.

Support for dyslexia, SFL in general (this was my professional not parental observation) was a bit patchy. Due to entrance tests, competitive culture etc there is much less diversity so SFL staff didn't deal with range of needs present in the state sector so perhaps lack the experience this brings.

My youngest left Dollar a couple of years ago. I can tell you pupilsobviously come from Dollar itself, but the larger proportion come from outside. Buses bring pupils from Stirling, Dunblane, Falkirk and Fife.

Obviously some pupils join from P1, but the numbers are quite small, I think it used to be just one small class from P1-P5. The main other entry points are J1&J2 ( P6&P7) and the S1. Some children move from the primary in Dollar to the academy, but not by all means the majority. You will get different answers on any divide depending on who you ask. Some people in Dollar believe there is a them and us, others don't. The school does work quite hard at making its facilities etc available to the local community to try and be a good neighbour, but I think in truth there must be one.

I have no first hand experience of support for pupils who have dyslexia , a few of my DC's friends received such support and they and their parents seemed happy. I always found the office staff helpful so it may be worth a call to ask to speak to the head of learning support to discuss.

If you are thinking state, as well as Alva have a look at Kinross. It would have to be a placing request from Dollar, but has a very good reputation.

Thank you to both of you, that is all useful information. I may well private message you with some further questions.

İ live in Dollar and my three went to the local primary. It is a nice primary.
İ would say that previously a greater number of children transiting from the primary to Dollar Academy but the numbers have decreased slightly, in my children's case it was 3 or 4 into J1 and a smaller number into Form 1, definitely not a majority.
Kinross High is no longer an option, it is at capacity and does not accept placing requests, if you want it as a back up you'd have to live in catchment.
Alva is a good school, all my friends kids who went there achieved their goals/preferred uni options etc. Obviously very mixed catchment.
Dollar can cope with dyslexia etc. But in the past managed out pupils with more complicated issues.
There definitely is a them and us issue but it varies a lot, Academy parents get very offended if you mention it but my children were very wary of groups of Academy boys (at that horrible 12-15 age)as they got verbal abuse from them often enough for it to make them cautious, at the same time they got on fine with my friends kids who were Academy pupils. There does tend to be a divide socially after primary but there are exceptions, although seems to be normal when kids go to any different High Schools, perhaps it's a bit more noticeable in a small town.
İ contest the idea of the Academy being accessible to locals, its more or less limited to the swimming pool for lessons, although the new rector is very keen on extending e learning opportunities to all local pupils (unusual Highers etc.)
To summarise;
Dollar is nice but a bit of a bubble and the Academy is a bubble within a bubble.
Alva is a good school but definitely not in a bubble.

I disagree with you on the use of facilities. The academy runs evening language and IT evening classes for locals, especially IT for older people. As you say it also makes the swimming pool accessible and other facilities ( suck as games hall etc) are available to hire

İ know about the evening classes, nice little extra but not what I would call significant community engagement, more better than nothing. The new Rector does seem to want to do more to fulfil the original remit of the school to educate local children though, which is a positive move.
The large house building schemes proposed around Dollar on Academy land (amongst other landowners) is likely to ruffle local feathers in the next few years.

Well there you go OP, I think @Wbeezer has answered you question about a divide. I think from reading their comments, they either don’t have children or they don’t/didn’t have children at Dollar Academy. The views they have expressed are either hearsay ie. managed pupils out. In my experience pupils were asked to leave when their behaviour was unacceptable, not because they had additional needs. As for groups of pupils being verbally abusive, I think any large group of boys between 12-15, at any school may make people wary. I refute the concept it is purely a Dollar Academy issue. I know for a fact there were /are issues with pupils at Alva being abusive. The difference I think, is when this is brought to the attention of the school they act, although Isuspect this will be disputed!

I think the truth is, when you have a fairly large establishment like Dollar Academy in the middle of a small town, there are bound to be issues. I am sure locals are irritated by the influx of cars at drop off and pick up. Again, the school does try to minimise this, but it is impossible to eradicate the issue completely. I think also in truth, although this will be denied by parents whose children do not attend, that there is some resentment . I think @Wbeezer posts demonstrate this. Nothing positive to say, all negative. At the end of the day Dollar Academy is a good school, it achieves good results and offers it’s pupils an excellent curriculum. Not going to Dollar however, does not mean your children will not achieve their goals or gain entry to chosen universities.

I thought I was quite factual actually and didn't set out to be overly negative just answer the OPs questions and I was careful not to say anything that was just hearsay (the managing out happened to the children of two friends, it was due to SEN and was probably the right thing to do IMO but was not handled with sensitivity by the school which caused more upset than was necessary) and I also pointed out that children dividing into different social groups based on their schools was normal and at no point stated that verbal abuse was a problem exclusive to Dollar unfortunately, but they didn't do anything when I complained about a group of boys following DS 3 right into our garden and up to our front door giving him abuse, I was annoyed about that.

I'm sure the OP has been to the Open day or read the brochure for all the positive stuff, she wanted to know things that are not on the website.
No my children did not go to the Academy (or Alva)but many very good friends and family members or their (generally very nice) children did and I have lived in Dollar for 20+ years.
The parking is annoying though and is a source of resentment for some residents close to to the school along with the Fireworks and end of term late night partying up the hill! We all love the pipe band practices though.

This is all really interesting insight, thank you. I can see how with such a large school in a small
place that people can have polarised views.

Polarised views is a bit strong, @Jennylongleg and I seem to agree on the fact that both Dollar Academy and Alva are good schools in different ways. Strathdevon is a nice primary school, lots of Academy teachers kids go there at least until J1.Generally Dollar is a friendly place where everyone gets along well and there is good community spirit and engagement with community events. There is a bit of a natural divide between the kids at different schools due to the fact that kids to tend to make friends with who they spend the most time with, It's not a very rigid divide though and it's not a barrier to friendships.
To provide plea@Jennylongleg

Sorry something weird happened to my post there.

When I say resentment, I am meaning a bit of grumbling on the community Facebook page, not fallings out or anything major.

I would agree with @Wbeezer's last post, not totally polarised opinions. I totally accept that being a parent of children who went to Dollar, and living in Dollar will produce differing views. I am also sure that at times having Dollar in the community is a real pain for residents. I'm not sure if I would like early morning pipe band practice in the summer term, so I will say that @Wbeezer is more tolerant than me!

Luckily they are a VERY good pipe band.