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Original poster

Loretto vs Belhaven

28 replies

SunshineSmiley · 20/03/2023 23:16

Can anyone offer any advice on choosing between Loretto in Musselburgh or Belhaven in Dunbar?

Ideally will move to St George's in Edinburgh mid way through primary or if not ready, then at the end of primary.

Our daughter is a January birth so will start school at 4. We live in North Berwick so want an East Lothian school to begin with as travelling to Edinburgh everyday could be quite tiring for DD so don't want her to have the travel until she is ready.

OP posts:
Aphrathestorm · 20/03/2023 23:32

Defer so she starts at 5.

Original poster
SunshineSmiley · 20/03/2023 23:58

@Aphrathestorm i still think 5 is too young to be travelling to Edinburgh and back so would consider the same schools initially however, dont plan to defer

OP posts:
Original poster
SunshineSmiley · 21/03/2023 14:23

Anyone?

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Aphrathestorm · 22/03/2023 09:19

Most of the other jan/feb birthdays will defer (and some of the September-December ones too) so she will be over a year younger than her classmates.

I wouldn't do this to my DC.

The idea of putting 4 1/2 year olds to school is fast going very out of fashion.

There is absolutely no advantage to it.

motherstongue · 22/03/2023 17:27

I know both schools but haven’t used either. My thoughts would be that if you plan to move at the end of primary to St. George’s you would perhaps be better to opt for Belhaven since it is a Prep School. All the children will move on (to all different schools) whereas at Loretto (since it is an all through school) they won’t. If you opted for Loretto for Junior, why not for Senior? Both Loretto and StGs do GCSEs so no difference there but is it mainly class sizes or single sex?

Blaize230 · 22/03/2023 19:02

We went to the Loretto open day last weekend as we are considering it for DD. She is a Nov birthday and we were told she would need to go into preschool for a year. I was concerned that might be a disappointment to her as she's very keen on going to school but they get French, music, art etc with specialists so it seemed the best of both worlds. A bit more structure but still very much play based. We thought the atmosphere was really nice and the children who showed us round were all lovely. Have you visited both schools?

Kaffiene · 22/03/2023 19:07

We don’t use either schools but I know Loretto is very pro deferral. There are a lot of Aug - Dec kids who defer. Your DD would be very young in her year if they accepted her into P1.

liveforsummer · 22/03/2023 19:12

I agree with everything both @Aphrathestorm and @motherstongue has said. Having deferred my one feb birthday dd and work in primary 1 in a school I have a lot of personal experience with this. Where is she currently at nursery? As below a year at Loretto pre school would be great but she'd lose a lot of friends who would continue on through to high there

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 22/03/2023 20:35

I would defer her so she’s 5…. It’s completely ‘normal’ to do so in north Berwick. Perhaps then Belhaven so she leaves at the same time as her cohort for secondary x

Original poster
SunshineSmiley · 22/03/2023 20:55

DD is currently at a rural nursery just outside NB.

I have not visited either school yet, il be calling both on Friday to arrange visits.

I went to StG and loved it so when we had DD, i always wanted her to go there too. I am a Feb bday and started school at 4. I never had any issues, if anything, i felt proud to achieve what children slightly older were doing - maybe it even pushed me? If we sent DD to loretto and she was thriving with lots of friends and wanted to stay on rather than move, then i would not stand in her way. However, I have heard mixed reviews about loretto senior school which does concern me a bit and particularly given that the fees are significantly higher.

DD nursery seem confident she will be ready for school and I dont want her to get bored. There is another EL school called compass but they have a December cut off so she would need to wait an additional year to go there. Il find out on friday the views of loretto and belhaven re deferring. Friends who sent young children to loretto seem happy but i dont no anyone at belhaven.

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WeCome1 · 22/03/2023 21:02

The only thing I would say about Loretto is to ask for the older years how many are day pupils. I have heard that by senior there are very few and get left out. I’m not sure when in primary that might become an issue. It might be fine, but good to find out.

Original poster
SunshineSmiley · 22/03/2023 21:11

@WeCome1 thanks, il definitely ask that. I don't plan for DD to ever board unless she desperately wanted to later on, so that would really put me off.

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Crabbity · 22/03/2023 21:14

Different Scottish prep, but I think it’s highly unlikely in my recent experience that the school will be encouraging a start for a January born at 4. Seems to be a big push at the moment towards deferring any child born after December to defer, rightly or wrongly. I’m on the fence personally, as I think some kids can absolutely be ready, but just to guide your expectations over what they might suggest…

mummywithtwokidsplusdog · 22/03/2023 21:15

Hi OP I understand that your experience being young for your years was a positive one- but that doesn’t automatically mean your daughter will be similar. Schools are quite tricky at times / and more do now for teenagers so being older wouldn’t do any harm. Clearly just my own experience and views - I work in education and have two deferred entry teenagers myself.

ALLIS0N · 22/03/2023 21:18

Deferral isn’t really about them being “ ready “ for P1.

It’s more about them being the youngest or the oldest in the year in S4 and S5.

Original poster
SunshineSmiley · 22/03/2023 21:21

@Crabbity thanks for the heads up. Il see what they say. Are your DC at Cargilfield? I am hearing nothing but rave reviews about this prep but sadly it is too far away. I would consider moving closer if i didnt like NB so much.

@mummywithtwokidsplusdog @ALLIS0N thanks both for your thoughts. I really do take them on board although if im able to start DD at 4, I do currently plan to.

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motherstongue · 22/03/2023 21:23

If you can defer then I see no downside. It is especially beneficial in the exam years for maturity and being ready for Uni. Seems a long way off to think so far ahead but in my opinion it helps to be on the right side of 18 stating Uni.

Original poster
SunshineSmiley · 22/03/2023 21:31

@motherstongue the downside im worried about is DD getting board or not pushing herself. I dont want exam years to come along at senior school and her feeling like she can coast along.

Does anyone have any insight on experiences at Belhaven?

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Crabbity · 22/03/2023 21:35

No, further afield.

I was also very much young in my year, and kids are all younger end of the spectrum too, and also had a positive experience, but as I said, from our school’s perspective, if there is any doubt, they will suggest deferral.

And I actually (politely) disagree @ALLIS0N, particularly as my understanding is that the evidence shows that the discrepancy in academic achievement comparing older to younger pupils significantly narrows with time, and other factors are more influential - sex, socioeconomic status, low or high achieving school. I’d imagine parental support also has a significantly larger impact, though I don’t know if anyone’s managed to model that.

Anyway, I digress…

Eightytwenty · 22/03/2023 21:45

A friend has sent her kids to Belhaven and her kids have all loved it. Seems a pretty special school. Albeit it sounds like there are a lot of old money families. Not necessarily a bad thing but worth being aware. Another friend was pretty disappointed with Loretto. Kids moved there at upper end of primary though.

Sootess · 23/03/2023 06:34

Your DD will be very young for the year when you move her to George's @SunshineSmiley. If she were starting school there now they would recommend deferral.

In my DD's years there's been no-one we've been aware of with a birthday beyond December, and even those with December birthdays joined the school later. In fact when DD1 started there was a girl with a February birthday who started with her and she had been put down a year by the school when she joined.
When she is in upper school you run the risk of her being quite socially immature compared to rest of the year group as there will be plenty of girls almost a full year older than, and several over a year older.

The school has an eye to the exam years and starting university and the girls always benefit from being that bit older rather than younger for the year.

sendbackaletterfromamerica · 23/03/2023 06:55

Teacher here and it is honestly crazy to start them younger than they need to be. It disadvantages them the whole way through school. As everyone knows that, it's now uncommon. It doesn't matter how bright your child is, why would you put a disadvantage in their way?

liveforsummer · 23/03/2023 07:34

The bored thing is a nonsense even in a run of the mill state primary. The curriculum should be such that it tailors towards individual children and their abilities. These schools will be full of bright dc - all of them will be older than yours if you send her and with what they cost I'd be horrified if they weren't able to do this too.

RoseHarper · 23/03/2023 07:57

Agree, I would defer if at all possible, we were given really good advice re DS who is a Jan birthday, that being youngest isn't an issue at primary level, or academically but more in terms of maturity, socially etc. I can see this playing out with friends DC now starting uni etc. You want to give them the best possible chance in every aspect so I would defer if you have the opportunity.

Original poster
SunshineSmiley · 23/03/2023 12:00

Thanks everyone, really looking for thoughts on the two schools rather than the merits of deferring though.

@Eightytwenty thanks, thats good to hear that your friends children are happy. I think Belhaven is my favoured choice. I am going to speak to them about sports facilities as I know Loretto's are great so im hoping they are similar.

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