Heriots or EA

[Suunnyd]

We are looking to apply for Heriots and Edinburgh Academy for next year. Will be visiting both in September but any insights on which is the better option would be appreciated. All being well we hope to do P1 to S6 at the same school. We live in East Lothian.

Heriots

Pros -
Seems to be regarded as the school to get into.
I can take DD to school every day and collect her as I work not too far away.
I like the ethos of the school.

Cons -
I would need to go into the office 5 days a week particularly in the early years as we live in East Lothian and she would be too young to take public transport.
Sports fields at Golden acre from p5.

EA

Pros -
All one campus
Has a school bus that runs from East Lothian for all pupils.
Sports facilities look fantastic.

Cons -
Read reports on here about it being cliquey to stockbridge families. Dont want DD left out of things because we are further away.
Not a major consideration but its slightly dearer.
School bus is a huge plus but it does mean i wouldnt get to see DD until bus arrives in East Lothian rather than when i collected her from school and got the train home with her, which could be at least an hour earlier that id see her.

You might get more responses by asking the same question on local Facebook groups E.g Edinburgh Gossip Girls.

Don’t think you can go wrong with either school but it is a long school day for a p1. Would NB Law be an option for the first few years?

@Eightytwenty@Eightytwenty

Iv heard some negative reports of Law Primary so I am hesitant to send there, and I worry that by starting out in state that we might not get a place further down the line, particularly at Heriots?

@Eightytwenty@Eightytwenty

Iv heard some negative reports of Law Primary so I am hesitant to send there, and I worry that by starting out in state that we might not get a place further down the line, particularly at Heriots?

Hi, Does anyone know how are the assessments for George Herriot School in Edinburgh for starting in P7 please 🙏?
looking for some advise on how to get my child prepared.
Thank you 🙏

Previously lived in Edinburgh and had two daughters at St Georges. I think they do a bus from East Lothian. My children absolutely loved it. Definitely worth going to see.

@Janedoe82 St Georges would have been a serious contender but they dont run a bus from North Berwick.

Is Watsons on your list? One campus and I'm pretty sure runs a bus from NB.

I think that's a crazy amount of travel for a primary school kid to be doing, particularly when Law is a great primary school. Let her go local till P6, as most people do, even in the crazy Edinburgh private school world.

There's also clubs, parents nights, events, meet the teacher stuff, honestly you spend half your life at primary trekking up and down to school.

@SleepyFergus iv discounted watsons because you can't get on the school bus until P3, same as ESMS. EA bus takes children from P1 and Heriots, DH + I pass on the way to work so can do drop off.

@LaviniasBigBloomers Law isn't a consideration for us. Anecdotal of course, we have heard a number of concerning stories from unhappy parents and the satisfactory rating following the May 23 review by Eduction Scotland didnt fill us with confidence. If the travel became too much of an issue, DH and I both work in Edinburgh so can move, but trying to decide the best option to start off with.

@Suunnyd I know this is not what you're asking but if you're considering sending her from P1 I would honestly consider moving into Edinburgh.

My DC went to one of the schools mentioned on this thread (joined mid-primary). Virtually all of the children who started from P1 live less than 10 miles from the school. Not only is it a very long day for a little one during the week but you've also got the issue of weekend play dates/parties being in Edinburgh, or parents turning down your invitation for play date as it's too far to go on a Saturday. You could easily find your DD doing the trip 6 days week!
Location of friends was a very big consideration for us as we didn't want the girls to be socially isolated after having had such easy friendships from their local primary school.

Also if you move it could give you more scope to choose the school you feel suits best and not restricted by which one runs a bus from P1

Plenty of children get in to both schools from state at upper primary / S1 entry points, so I wouldn't worry too much about having to pick a straight through school now.

Have you considered Compass if you don't want to send your daughter to Law?

@Sootess i agree with a lot of what you say and maybe we will end up moving. We like nb, it seems a safe place for children to grow up, lots going on and it being a town is something we really like. If we moved to Edinburgh id want to live somewhere with a sort of town within the city vibe. The sea is a big pull too. Cramond is the obvious choice. Im not keen on Portobello. Any other places to consider? Cramond to Heriots is not really much of a time saving compared to heriots to nb and nb likely quicker if you took the train. Appreciate this doesnt help playdates but heriots catchment seems to be wider than other schools. Perhaps not in p1 though.

@OutPastMidnight yes, looked at compass and lorretto. Compass we didn't like, seemed too small. Loretto, is still in the back of my mind although would prefer scottish exams so would need to move at some point and their bus doesnt get to nb until 730pm.

If you are thinking of Cramond, would you consider Cargilfield?

@RoséProsecco iv heard so many good things about Cargilfield. Unfortunately not a consideration, we dont really want to move so would only move if the travel wasnt working out. Cargilfield is too far from nb and if we found ourself moving, it would be to be closer to the school dd was at. Dd would need to leave a year early to join a day school in Edinburgh for high school or start a year later so all in all i dont think it would work for us.

Play dates were a big part of both my dc's lives during primary (I mention primary as by secondary they tend to arrange things themselves). It's hard to imagine this happening if you're at school so far from where you live.
EA since it runs a bus must have a reasonable amount to easy Lothian children so might have more chance there. Are you happy to drive into the city at weekends for birthday parties (and to hold your own child's in Edinburgh as well)?
Since you're used to the commute you maybe don't find it as off-putting as I am!

FFS don’t make a kid travel to Edinburgh from North Berwick for lower primary school.

It’s too far and too long a day.

@Iggi999 yes, dh and i will take dd to Edinburgh as often as required. As you say, we both commute and think nothing of it.

@TrishTrix@TrishTrixthe thread has derailed, if anyone has opinions on ea v heriots or has children at either school and is able to share any information on what they think of it, particularly primary, id be very grateful.

We just started heriot’s P1 and we are very very happy with it.

happy to answer any questions