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Scotsnet

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

Best Primary Schools around Airdrie?

15 replies

Bountychocolate · 30/04/2025 11:11

I'm moving up to Scotland with my DS who is in Primary School currently, and wondered if anyone could recommend a good rural school outside of Airdrie? We are moving to a farm on the outskirts.

OP posts:
Bountychocolate · 30/04/2025 12:42

Anyone?

OP posts:
Willowback · 30/04/2025 22:57

Where abouts in Airdrie most folk just send kids to the catchment school.

Bountychocolate · 01/05/2025 07:55

On the North side. But I'm happy to drive / travel to go to a good school for him. He's changing from a very small, rural school in England.. so want to find the best fit.

OP posts:
RaraRachael · 01/05/2025 08:05

Have you had a look at your catchment school? As a PP said, most people just use their local school - there's not the obsession there seems to be in England with getting your child into the "best school".
I've no idea what the HMIE ratings for our local schools are.

Bountychocolate · 01/05/2025 08:08

Yes, I have arranged to visit the catchment school, and am considering my options and here to get feedback from others about schools in the area.

OP posts:
Willowback · 01/05/2025 12:02

New Monkland Primary is a lovely wee school in Glenmavis on the north side of the town. It has quite a small school role in comparison to a lot of the other schools in Airdrie however there has been new houses built within catchment so it's likely to go up. If your son is used to a smaller school this would be my choice. It has around 160 pupils in comparison to Clarkston PS which has around 400.

snoopyfanaccountant · 05/05/2025 10:40

I have heard very good things about Golfhill.

Meeplemakeglasgow · 06/05/2025 11:29

Sorry to be the one who breaks this to you but the idea of a ‘rural’ school around here may not be what you’re thinking of.

For a start you don’t tend to choose or apply for schools in Scotland, you have the the choice of a catchment ND or RC schools.

If you’re living on a farm north of Airdrie then I’d assume your catchment schools are likely to be new monkland, greengairs or St Andrews.

All of the villages surrounding Airdrie have a high-level of deprivation, mostly old mining villages and it’s not really ‘rural’ most of them are within 2 miles of fairly large also deprived towns, so the schools will not have a small rural feel.

It doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with the schools, most primary schools are much of a muchness, the secondary schools around Airdrie are your big concern.

I’m not one for purely focusing on school league tables so although the exam results are poor this is not the main issue, I have family members who have had horrific experiences at school in north Lanarkshire.

Bountychocolate · 07/05/2025 18:02

@Meeplemakeglasgow appreciate your response. I have looked into two of the schools you have named. One of them seemed lovely.

I'm willing to drive my child within 30mins if it means a world of difference with the school. Is there anywhere you would recommend?

OP posts:
Willowback · 07/05/2025 21:19

It doesn't really work like that in scotland, especially north lanarkshire you will get a place at your catchment schools either ND or Catholic, if you don't want either of these you will need to put a placement application into the school you would like but it's rare to get these accepted without a good reason ie siblings already in the school and it's even rarer to get a placement outside your council area.

RaraRachael · 07/05/2025 21:36

It's funny how very different it is here as opposed to England.
My SiL asked me how many schools I was looking at for my DC. When I said none and that they'd just be going to their catchment one, she couldn't believe it.

bebopalula111 · 07/05/2025 23:06

If you’re going to north of Airdrie you could also consider Cumbernauld. There is a few. Depending when you move you could arrange to visit a few. To enrol you will need your council tax statement.

welcome to North Lanarkshire!

Meeplemakeglasgow · 08/05/2025 10:13

Bountychocolate · 07/05/2025 18:02

@Meeplemakeglasgow appreciate your response. I have looked into two of the schools you have named. One of them seemed lovely.

I'm willing to drive my child within 30mins if it means a world of difference with the school. Is there anywhere you would recommend?

@Bountychocolate

The best secondary school around that area is Our Lady’s High School in Cumbernauld.

If you are to the rural area between Airdrie and Cumbernauld then Saint Barbara’s Primary in Muirhead would be easily accessible to you and is within catchment for OLHS.

As far as I’m aware the primary has a good reputation although I’m basing that on second -hand info so worthwhile checking it out yourself.

Placement requests are not usually a problem in North Lanarkshire so wouldn’t worry if you’re slightly out of catchment.

Here is the secondary league table for NLC Schools, as I say they are not everything but the difference in outcomes between the Airdrie and Cumbernauld schools are quite stark.

www.glasgowworld.com/education/north-lanarkshires-best-high-schools-2025-all-23-north-lanarkshire-secondary-schools-ranked-by-latest-academic-attainment-5110039

LadyQuackBeth · 08/05/2025 11:59

Good luck with the move. One thing I would consider is that he will be one of the only ones living out of catchment, if you did get a request approved. So you driving him to a school much further away would have more repercussions than it would in England, where one neighbourhood might make a lot of different choices.

Schools are not separate from the communities, you don't tend to find two that are really close but miles apart in quality (however you would measure this). Instead, the schools tend to represent their catchments. You don't find good schools in bad areas or vice versa - if you are happy living in an area, then you tend to be happy with the school.

Your DS would stand out if he was deliberately going to a totally different school, some distance away, both with the people you live near and his school friends. You'd need to find a good line in answering people when they ask why. One child in my DSs class is in this position (also moved up from London and rented for our school for a few months before buying far away) and he misses out on all the ad hoc plans made on a sunny day to go to the park, never walks with anyone, his mum can never just pick someone else up or help out as easily with things at the school, she isn't part of the local community in a way that I find extremely valuable.

It's clearly up to you, but I wanted to draw attention to this difference, as it's something that you wouldn't realise you were missing until it was too late to fix.

Meeplemakeglasgow · 08/05/2025 12:08

LadyQuackBeth · 08/05/2025 11:59

Good luck with the move. One thing I would consider is that he will be one of the only ones living out of catchment, if you did get a request approved. So you driving him to a school much further away would have more repercussions than it would in England, where one neighbourhood might make a lot of different choices.

Schools are not separate from the communities, you don't tend to find two that are really close but miles apart in quality (however you would measure this). Instead, the schools tend to represent their catchments. You don't find good schools in bad areas or vice versa - if you are happy living in an area, then you tend to be happy with the school.

Your DS would stand out if he was deliberately going to a totally different school, some distance away, both with the people you live near and his school friends. You'd need to find a good line in answering people when they ask why. One child in my DSs class is in this position (also moved up from London and rented for our school for a few months before buying far away) and he misses out on all the ad hoc plans made on a sunny day to go to the park, never walks with anyone, his mum can never just pick someone else up or help out as easily with things at the school, she isn't part of the local community in a way that I find extremely valuable.

It's clearly up to you, but I wanted to draw attention to this difference, as it's something that you wouldn't realise you were missing until it was too late to fix.

@LadyQuackBeth I don’t know if you’re aware of the area but for the school I suggested it is unlikely to be much of a problem?

The Op had advised she will be living in a rural area inbetween 2 reasonably large towns.

The school is in a village at the edge of the rural area so although the majority of kids will live in the village many will live in the rural part so will not stay in the main community.

Even if it is not strictly speaking the correct catchment it is not the case that the child will live in one community and go to school in another, as they won’t be living close to their schoolmates anyway.

The only difference is they will be driving 3.5 miles to school instead of 2.5.

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