Dalkeith or Lasswade high school?

[MidlothianMum]

Hi there,
We live in Eskbank, almost exactly halfway between Dalkeith and Lasswade high schools.
Our son will go to King's Park Primary and then onto one of the above (Dalkieth by catchment area).
Wondering if anyone has any experience of one vs. the other?
They seem to alternate in terms of exam results. Any Eskbank parents out there with a strong opinion either way? Or perhaps you use a third solution?
Thanks in advance!

Bit of a late response but was here searching for alternatives to DHS as my child is being badly bullied there. Obviously won't be everyone's experience and I've no idea if Lasswade is any better, but we've found that although the staff at DHS are generally good, there are a lot of pupils at the school with serious behavioral problems that school seems unable to manage.

For us it's ranged from physical assaults to cyberbullying to verbal abuse. The school are always sympathetic but their only approach is to try to find ways for the victims to avoid the bullies, stuff like changing seats, getting a hall pass, being told to eat in the library instead of the lunch hall - none of which actually keeps them safe or addresses the underlying problem.

I know of multiple parents who have removed their children from the school recently because the environment is not safe, let alone conducive to learning.

We live outside Dalkeith. It's our only catchment area school and we've so far been unable to find a place at any out-of-catchment school due to high demand, and we've been trying for several years now.

Same behaviour problems here at James Gillespie in Edinburgh. One of the ‘better’ Edinburgh schools. The staff have their hands tied as the scottish government have banned permanent exclusions. The police have their hands tied as being charged with assault just = a telling off. It’s terrifying.

My advice? Ask the school how they are adequately safeguarding your child (and point out how their plans are totally inadequate). Get councillors and your MSP & MP involved and point out that the school is totally failing to physically safeguard your child. Name the school you want your child to go to, and demand action. Point out that it’s abhorrent that you are having to move your child at all, and full rolls are your problem not theirs. If the bully was in care then space would be made for them in any school. I can’t see why your rights schools differ. Get angry!

If your son "will go to" Kings Park primary does that mean he's still pre-school age? If so, high schools and catchment boundaries could change a lot in the next 7 years or so!

The reality is that your child will go to Dalkeith High if that's your catchment - which it will be if Kings Park is your catchment primary. So you'd need to submit an out of catchment request for Lasswade. I know both schools and hear good and bad for both so I'd honestly say they are much of a muchness. There are quite a lot of kids in the area that go to private schools if that's an option.