Secondary School Success Stories Central Belt

[SwampWitch84]

Any state secondary schools in the central belt you feel deserve a shout-out for going above and beyond? I’ve read a few horror stories so it would be really cool to hear some success stories too, which I’m sure there are many.

Why am I asking this?

We’re super excited to be moving to Scotland in June from abroad (I wont bore you with the details but basically our work needs us in the UK and we want to contribute our taxes and time to Scotland and it’s people for many reasons close to our hearts). We are looking at settling in:

North Berwick
Linlithgow
Stirling? (unsure)
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
South Queensferry
Duloch

Open to more suggestions.

We work fully remote from home and prefer the suburbs (can afford everywhere except Edinburgh city).

Our decision on where to settle will be 110% be driven by being in a good state school catchment BUT this does not have to follow what is captured in the league table. IE I know several of the top-attaining schools are in East Refrewshire and East Dunbartonshire. But maybe there’s a lower attaining school with remarkable teachers and happy kids just over the hill in a cheaper suburb too.

Obviously I get that there’s also a housing crisis and resulting oversubscribed schools meaning you can get placed elsewhere even when you are in a certain carchment. I accept that I cannot really control this, but I would love love love to hear your happy secondary school stories regardless so that when we are looking for a rental I can at least hone in a bit better where to look and then let fate decide whereto from there.

Hope this all makes sense but ask away if you have any questions as it’s impossible to cover it all in one post.

Jordanhill school is famously fantastic and has inevitably a naice catchment area.

Don't you pretty much have to be in catchment when the children are born to get in though?

Blimey, that would explain a lot…

Currie and Balerno have good schools and gave more of a range in house prices than the city centre.

Gryffe High in Houston gets consistently high results & has won awards.

Saying that living in the catchment area doesn't guarantee a place its so popular

North Berwick High School is excellent.

Thank you. Didn’t know this so have added to the list! 😄

Thanks for this and noted.

Yep, this is true.

Strathaven Academy. Good outcomes for the kids (work as well further study) and very welcoming.

McLaren High, idyllic place to grow up and never seen an unhappy kid there

Thank you so much. Didn’t even consider looking there before. Adding to my list. 🙏

Bearsden Academy not heard a bad word said about it.

I live in Glasgow and for a number of reasons my child goes to a Glasgow school. If this wasn't a factor, I'd live in Bearsden and send my child to a local Bearsden school. Less arrogant than East Ren I think and right next to countryside.

you've not mentioned Dunblane, it goes up and down the ratings a bit but it's usually fairly high up, lovely wee town but housing can be tricky as sometimes there is little movement.

Thanks so much for this insight. We spent a bit of time in Bearsden last year and loved it. I also happened to have the best haggis brekkie of my life there 😂

Without wishing to hijack the OPs thread, could I ask your opinion about which schools in Glasgow are the best? (We're looking at Hillhead/Hyndland but wondering if there are others to consider when deciding where to live)

I’ve sent you a DM OP.

Woodmill High School is the catchment for Duloch (Dunfermline) and my experience of it has been great. It’s recently moved into a brand new building too and the local college will be relocating into a new setting on the same campus next year, which could offer some really interesting learning opportunities in S5&6.

However, if you are fully remote then don’t come here - it’s a fantastic location for an occasional commute as you can easily get to Edinburgh/dundee/perth/glasgow/livingston, but if you don’t need to factor that in then I’d be looking at a smaller town like Linlithgow/Dunbar/North Berwick etc.

I appreciate the feedback and will take
it on board!

Have three kids, oldest two have left school now but all three at B Academy and very happy with it.

@soundsys You're probably best with Hyndland or Hillhead to be honest, if you're remaining within Glasgow. Notre Dame or the Gaelic school are the other standouts. Most other acclaimed Glasgow schools tend to be 'despite their issues' type places. The beauty of Glasgow is you tend to get a true comprehensive experience at most schools so if you're looking for diversity you'll get it.