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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Relocation to Aberdeen

18 replies

Doroiri · 12/07/2023 16:02

Hello, Everyone! My family and I are relocating to Aberdeen soon and I would like to get some advice on good schools? Both my kids should attend primary school. I was wondering if you could suggest best schools and best area to live in? Thank you very much :)

OP posts:
Scotsgirl001 · 12/07/2023 16:19

In the city I’d look to be near Ashley Road, Ferryhill or Broomhill primary schools. If you prefer to be in the suburbs then Cults. But it will depend also on what kind of property you’re looking for, budget and whereabout you/partner will be working. Public transport here is not great or reliable.

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 12/07/2023 16:23

Robert Gordon's college for secondary. Private school

Original poster
Doroiri · 12/07/2023 16:31

Thank you for the suggestion! With regards to location - I’ll be working in the Stoneywood area, but technically we can live anywhere in the city as long as the good school is close) would you happen to have any feedback on Stoneywood School? I also heard that Mile End school
is good? Property-wise we are looking for either 2-3 bedroom flat or a house

OP posts:
Original poster
Doroiri · 12/07/2023 16:33

With regards to Cults - I saw good reviews on Cults academy, but I guess it’s a secondary school? Is Cults primary any good?

OP posts:
Scotsgirl001 · 12/07/2023 16:57

Not sure about Stoneywood, I think it might be in the catchment for bucksburn. There’s lots of new build/starter type homes built recently in that area.

Scotsgirl001 · 12/07/2023 16:59

Not sure about Stoneywood, I think it might be in the catchment for bucksburn. There’s lots of new build/starter type homes built recently in that area. Mile End primary is very good, more expensive area to live, as is Cults.

standys · 15/07/2023 00:25

For an easy commute to work in Stoneywood, you might want to look at property in Westhill Aberdeenshire. Westhill Academy used to have a good reputation.

standys · 15/07/2023 00:27

Doroiri · 12/07/2023 16:33

With regards to Cults - I saw good reviews on Cults academy, but I guess it’s a secondary school? Is Cults primary any good?

Yes I think the feeder primaries for Cults Academy are all pretty decent although some people living in that part of Aberdeen will use the private schools.

standys · 15/07/2023 00:35

I see for 2022 Westhill went from 31 to 66. Given how many schools it is out of top 50 is a very good sign.

standys · 15/07/2023 00:42

Bucksburn went from 127 to 169. I don't know if the massive leaps were affected by teacher-determined grades during covid.

Original poster
Doroiri · 17/07/2023 06:03

Thank you very much for the information! Very much appreciated :)

OP posts:
angelopal · 17/07/2023 06:17

Do you need childcare? It can be almost impossible in some primary schools to get places in breakfast and after school clubs.

TartanTed · 17/07/2023 06:34

My kids are at Mile End & we've been really pleased with the school & teachers. The facilities are excellent. It feeds into the Grammar school which is a good secondary.

As others have said Cults & Westhill also good.

LunaandLily · 17/07/2023 06:57

Unless you can pay for RGC, Albyn or St Margaret’s, you want to be in the catchment area for Aberdeen Grammar School. Primary school is less important, but look at living in Mile End, Broomhill, Gilcomstoun, St Joseph’s or Ashley Road catchments as these are feeders for Grammar (as long as you have the right address). Be careful though, Grammar and Harlaw Academy catchments are very close, in some cases such as Great Western Road, one side of the road is Grammar and the other side of the road is Harlaw.

If my DC had not got a place at Grammar, it would have been Robert Gordon’s College for us. Grammar has all the same issues as other schools, tiny skirts that don’t go past their blazers, black converse for school shoes, and vapes. But so do all the schools including the private ones, and Grammar is a historic, respected school which I believe takes education and discipline really seriously. Huge drugs problem at Cults and the main reason their results are so good are the parents can pay for extra tuition. As is the case with all schools with an overwhelming proportion of wealthy people in the catchment.

standys · 17/07/2023 10:31

BTW the Grammar School is not selective, it is a Comprehensive with a catchment area.
With the opening of the AWPR could also consider more of Aberdeenshire. Stonehaven (Mackie Academy) is a short commute into Aberdeen.
If it hasn't changed, Peterculter, Milltimber and Cults are all in the catchment for Cults Academy.

SabrinaThwaite · 17/07/2023 11:31

Cults always had a bit of a rep for drugs given that it’s a wealthy area, but we never saw that much of it. Things may have changed over the last few years but nobody I knew paid for tutoring - good results was at least partly down to not entering kids in exams unless they could get a decent grade. Out of the feeder schools, Culter and Milltimber primaries had good reputations and Cults was always a bit so so (especially under the old long standing head who is now long gone).

The Grammar was a good secondary, so Mile End and Ashley Road would be good primary options.

Oldmachar Academy seems to be doing well in the rankings so that area could be worth considering.

You can check catchment areas here:

https://accabdn.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2716ebdc4d744593bd532f706c8545df

I think a lot of the Counteswells new builds are temporarily zoned to Bucksburn, so watch out for that.

You get more house for your money in the Shire so I’d definitely look at Westhill for primary moving into secondary.

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