Pastoral Care Secondary Schools in/near Edinburgh

[CycleMum84]

I'm looking at moving either in/near Edinburgh for work from Cambridge, England. I have 2 DD, one Y5 and one in Y8. I believe this would be P6 and S1 in Scotland. I've read the exam results and even found some alternative calculations about quality of teaching. I'm interested in hearing about positive experiences of pastoral care at state secondary schools especially the "less desirable" schools.

Both my children go/went to a "less desirable" primary school here in Cambridge. The pastoral care is AMAZING. Both my children have been so happy there. I've read that Firrhill, St Thomas of Aquin and the Royal High are all around good (teaching and pastoral care). Could anyone share experiences with pastoral care with Craigmount, Queensferry, and Portobello? Or other secondary schools that many would consider "less desirable?

Thank you!

I have 2 DD, one Y5 and one in Y8. I believe this would be P6 and S1 in Scotland

Not necessarily. there is a 6 month discrepancy between cut off dates for school entry between Scotland and England - ours is 28th Feb not 31st Aug. So it really depends on when your children's birthdays are. You need to work this out first before looking at schools as obviously it's going to affect whether you're looking at primaries or secondaries in the first instance.

Also AFAIK there is big pressure on some school places in Edinburgh and it strikes me that the schools you are talking about are all over the city - Craigmount is Corstorphine in the very west, Portobello is right in the east. Queensferry isn't even in Edinburgh! The school allocation system in Scotland is very different and it will really depend on where you are going to be living.

Are your children in state schools? What has been your experience with pastoral care in those schools?

Be careful about "less desirable" Scottish schools compared to "less desirable" English ones. The curriculum for excellence in Scotland can be very difficult to implement in deprived areas. The English curriculum is more defined and potentially clearer to implement in deprived areas. We moved from a mediocre school in Scotland to a deprived area in England and the English school manages to do so much more.

@kaffkooks Sigh... Will keep this mind. I have few complaints about the schools here. They're excellent!

I have a DC at Tynecastle and found it to be pretty good for pastoral care. Considered by some to be less desirable but that tends to be by those whose DC are not at the school rather than those whose DC are. Smaller school which has suited my DC and the teachers know everyone’s names. DC is also doing well academically there.

@Wriggleloom Thank you!