Arran high school and rugby football

[Corajoan]

I am very disillusioned with the secondary education where I am on the Cornwall Devon boarder. We are part of a MAT and the behaviour policy is causing huge absence from lessons for many children with SEN, and for minor issues.

I am considering a move to the Isle of Arran for a small school experience and a more family environment. Our current school is 1,400 plus.

What are peoples thoughts?
Is it a welcoming place?
Can children take part in competitive sports with other schools off the island?

My kids love rugby and football.

Any freed back on the state of Scottish education will be appreciated.

Although not from Arran I can say a bit about a different rural school in Argyll and the Scottish education system. Curriculum for excellence is very vague so motivated teachers manage well with it but a lot of schools struggle to teach an adequately challenging Curriculum. It is a massive jump from the "broad education" to S4 and Highers in S5. Rural schools also struggle to recruit teachers. Family at a rural mainland Argyll school have needed to massively supplement with online tutoring in order to get children to the right standard for Higher as there are no specialist teachers in certain subjects. Many children in the school lack any drive to achieve so lessons are very disrupted and as it's a small school so there is no getting away from them. But then, city schools can have the same problems.

Minimal extracurricular activities at the rural school family go to with main ones on offer football, shinty and pipe band. They need to drive 2 hours to get to an away match against another team and the team is always made up of the same people. Also bear in mind all the CalMac ferry issues at the moment which will disrupt transport.

Rural areas can be wonderful for some people but we were happy with our decision to leave and children are flourishing in a big English city. You could maybe contact the school on Arran to ask about Curriculum and sports? Good luck with your move.

I can't disagree with the PP. I think performance in schools varies a lot but much of that will be down to support or lack of it at home, individual heads/teachers, the latter can change all the time.

Personally with your criteria I'd maybe be looking at either the Borders, north Central belt, or rural lothians. Transport issues are less (mainly snow/floods rather than ferry issues). Rugby and football are well covered with plenty of cross school leagues.

More choice in terms of schools for where you want to locate yourself.

If they are very serious about rugby and you’re looking for state school that plays rugby regularly, I think they’d be better off in a mainland school- probably the Borders but Ayrshire is developing new rugby academies in some of the high schools - Marr College in Troon being the oldest/most established but they have started new academies within Ayr Academy and Belmont Academy in Ayr. Of the two Ayr schools Belmont is the higher achieving school generally but none of them would be considered small schools.

Dumfries and Galloway also had strong community rugby clubs but not sure what the schools offer.

The problem with small schools though is the limitations in extra- curriculars that go with lower numbers- especially with what is unfortunately a minority sport in Scotland and one that is very much private school dominated in much of the country.

this is one to avoid, standards low, academically and behaviourally, staff have low expectations and aspirations for students too.

When you say this is one to avoid, where do you mean?

Yes I see that small schools have limitations. The overall advantages probably out weigh this for me. I am looking for a community.

One thing to note is the ferry seems like it’s off more than it’s on. Although not sports - kids from Arran were meant to perform in a concert my children were in and the ferry was off so they just missed out.

That’s a shame. What age are your children? Are they happy in their school?
I heard there is a new ferry soon?

The new ferry has been coming ‘soon’ for what feels like an eternity! Even with the main one running there’s still not infrequent days when waves are too rough to dock. It also tends to book out completely in summer months - not sure how islanders manage to get on and off at short notice (at least not taking a car).

The Scottish school league tables are available online but they only show numbers leaving with at 5 A-C Highers- they’re the exams done in 5th year +/- 6th year, so some children leave before doing any (at end of S4). The league table position and deprivation of catchment areas are inversely proportional generally.

If looking for a community is very important to you I’d be aware that the kids in a rural High School will be bussed in from a huge catchment, which limits extra-curriculars as well (everything has to be finished in time for the buses so probably no after-school clubs) plus your child’s best friend could end up living on the other side of the island. I’d also
look into how much of any settlement is lived in all year round, as like all touristy areas holiday lettings have had a big impact on communities on Scottish islands.

How old are your kids? The systems are quite different (apart from everything else there’s only 6 years maximum of secondary education in Scotland) and the birth cut offs for each year entry are different too. Ideally I’d want to move kids for the start of S3 at the latest (so 13-14 depending on when birthday falls) so they are settled in before the exam years of S4/5/6.

I’d definitely encourage anyone to move to Scotland, it’s an amazing country, but I don’t think personally I’d move to an island with teenage kids for all the reasons I’ve mentioned.

My children are 10,10 and 12. The twins would be in P5 and 12 year old S1 I think. We live very rurally now. I’m used to driving long distances.
I would rather live in a village and not have to drive tbh. Or close to one.
I'm not bothered about isolation or lack of ferries really. I like a peaceful life.

I'm not bothered about isolation or lack of ferries really. I like a peaceful life.

you might find your kids are bothered by it.

Even when the ferry is on its very restrictive for kids and sport due to the times. One of the young people I know who plays a sport to a competitive standard has to stay with relatives on the mainland in training nights.

Young people don’t stay long on the island by and large due to the cost of housing and lack of opportunities. It’s also a rather - unique place community wise . There’s lots of incomers so I don’t think that would be an issue itself. Cost of living is high, there is no mains gas and only a coop as a supermarket in Brodick. The ferry is and looks like remaining a disaster.

Gettung staff for services, healthcare, leisure, etc, is a bloody nightmare. So sometimes things don’t open or can’t run.

on the other hand it is beautiful and there are a lot less tourists due to the ferry issue.

Lots of people seem to get the ferry to Ardrossan (when they can) and stock up at the Asda five minutes walk from the pier, or they go down the coast to the nearest Aldi or Lidl. Must be worth it financially and to get greater choice, even taking into account the return fare, but what a hassle.

Did Asda stop delivering to the island?

Youngsters are priced out of the housing market everywhere these days. There is no location where it’s easy. If it’s hard to get staff does that mean there are usually job openings also?

aaran has the highest second home ownership in Scotland. I grew up on an island and would echo what others said, it can be restrictive for kids especially with the ferry issues and especially if they want to be involved in sports etc
asda never delivered to the island as far as I’m aware? there was talk of it but the only version of deliveries was with private delivery companies paying per basket type thing.
even living in a village you are going to have to drive and do the ferry for various things including potentially for healthcare related things.

Not arran but have family on another island. School is larger than many island schools as they have boarders but still there is little in the way of formal competitive sports due to logistics and attainment isn't great. As much as they love the island community they are considering relocating before their little one hits secondary school age.

The Co-op in Brodick does a delivery service of sorts. I think the deliveries are all done on one day of the week. My Mum's neighbour uses the service and seems happy with it.

Arran is probably an extreme choice, if what you're looking for is small town Scottish life.

Madras College in St Andrews for example, has an excellent rugby team, and is the catchment school for tons of small towns and villages.

I grew up on a Scottish island close to Arran.
I echo the sentiments already stated, it is hard to attract teachers, it is difficult leaving the island and quickly becomes a mentally large thing.
There are very few decent jobs, your dc Will almost certainly leave and getting back to visit you is a headache.
Drink and drugs are huge issue for teens as there are very limited options for entertainment.

There are additional delivery charges for delivery to the islands and buying any thing on them is expensive.
Travel is expensive.

Yes, my Mum recently ordered some plants and was outraged to be charged another £6 or £7 for the postage because of the postcode. If the package is sent by Royal Mail, it will cost exactly the same as it would to any mainland postal address, as far as I know, but I suppose they can't guarantee that it will be RM.

There’s certainly jobs but you couldn’t get a house there on the salary for them which is why they’re there. They’ve recently gone to one head teacher across all primaries to try to help recruiting and retaining as an example. The community gym in Arran high can’t open as there’s no staff. And I’m hearing rumours this summer is make or break for the big spa hotel.

The Ayrshire housing market in general is not one where kids are priced out.

i know if people moving back to England when they or their partner is retired so they can have a better quality of life - cinema, theatre, nights out type things. Social care is also a real challenge as you get older.

Asda don’t deliver. I don’t know if they ever did. If the ferry runs sticking up on the mainland us a good option. If you can book the car on the ferry in tourist season of course and if it runs.

It’s still beautiful when the weather is good though.

I lived on Arran as a child from 5-8 yrs old and it was really good for that age group, did brownies and cycled to the church hall for that, piano lessons and pony trekking in Glen Rosa. Went to the mainland for e.g. shoes and also with the school youth club which made an effort to get us off the island. This was a while ago know but think it might be less good for teenagers? But not sure. It was tricky to find things like swimming, had to go to a hotel the other side of the island for that.

It is also very rainy and wet