Edinburgh private schools - how tough is S1 entry?

[Heatherbell1978]

We're currently considering P6 or S1 entry for DS between a couple of the Edinburgh day schools. P6 would be ideal for giving him time to settle ahead of high school but financially S1 works a lot better for us. Gives us a few more years to save.

But the stricter entrance requirements concern me and it feels like taking a bit of a risk that maybe wouldn't be as high for P6 entry.

In reality what is the situation like out there for S1 entry? DS is bright and very sporty but not top of the class bright. His teachers think he'd do well at private school though.

DS is at Watson's. He's in S6 now so I'm not super close to it all, but anecdotally I've heard that they're finding it harder to fill all the spaces these days and they expanded P7 and S1 I think just before covid and cost of living crisis.

In my head that's what I assume but there always seems to be demand there! It's between GWC and ESMS for us - I'll ask at the upcoming Open Days but I imagine the school would prefer earlier entry so they'll no doubt suggest that.

Are you really a 44/45 year-old called Heather Bell? If so, maybe make sure you choose a school that's hot on internet safety so your son learns it from somewhere.

@Heatherbell1978 I think your DS would fit in well at Watsons he sounds a bit like mine.
I will see if I can speak to anyone a bit closer to see how many applications they got for S1 versus spaces these days.

The last couple of years have been really competitive. We put our middle one in for the tests for P7 entry, just to get a feel for it really, and he was only waiting listed for one. He then did get a place so off he goes!
He has been part of a group of three getting extension maths work in his class, so we thought he’d be ok. We had similar with eldest in 2021.
You can phone them and ask about the number of places and applicants numbers too for S1. (Although bear in mind people apply for more than one school.)

I should add, our experience in 2021 was for S1 entry.

A compromise could be P7 entry.I'm sure there is an entire new class at Watson's for that and it means by the time he starts S1 he will be fully integrated.
Or if he doesn't get in at that point, there's another chance to do it at S1.

Schools will tell you there are eg.100 applicants for 40 places.
But remember that many families, although certainly not everyone, apply to more than 1 school for S1 entry.
So if you approach 2 or 3 schools and they give you the same sorts of figures just be aware many of those are the same children. That's why the schools have the agreed date in February for all sending out their offers.

I'm not aware of current entry situation as my DC are older now but I know of a number of bright and academically able children who didn't get into their 1st choice school, including DD2s best friend.

My name isn't Heather Bell. Thankfully I'm quite smart.

As it happens our preference is ESMS which works better for various school run logistics and they only really do P6 and S1. We did initially prefer GWC but the logistics got us thinking elsewhere! This may all change once we've done the Open Days mind you!

@Heatherbell1978 that makes sense, we only looked at GWC for logistical reasons, although just to note as it's late junior and secondary you're looking at, it becomes less of an issue, particularly with the free bus pass.

The other thing is that GWC has a reputation of being less academically demanding than ESMS which is either a good or bad thing depending on your pov.

We're outside of town so it would be 2 'free' buses to GWC although we could pay for the school transport. So not completely off the table! I think where we would struggle is if DS was doing games after school (highly likely) and from I gather the ESMS buses wait until after games but GWC don't? And one of us trekking across town to collect wouldn't work as we have DD as well at local primary. Questions to ask on the Open Day though!

ESMS do P7 entry if there are places.

Both of my DC went to Watson’s. While we had no issues with our DS (until his last year, involving what the school did to his sister), we had to withdraw our DD over a complete breakdown of safeguarding. Our experience with the school, both their actions and the subsequent complaint process was horrific and not one I would wish on any family. We were lied to and lied about. Repeatedly.

I used to sing the school’s praises on here, both under this user name and an earlier. Now I wouldn’t touch it with a barge pole.

Any parent considering Watson’s, IMO should have a look at 2017 and how they treated the parents of a young girl who was badly bullied (easily googled if you search for the school and Andy Wightman). IME, they haven’t learned anything from that incident. I’d also have a look at their recent press coverage.

For any parent looking at an independent school I would strongly recommend looking at both their safeguarding procedures as well as their complaints process. For the latter, I’d try to get a feel for how many formal complaints the schools receives and how they are handled (ie how is a parent treated fairly) and how many are upheld.