Morayshire and surrounding mumsnetters - I would love your opinions.

[HambleThroughTheArchedWindow]

It looks very much we will be returning to Morayshire at the start of next year. We moved away 11 years ago and have spent most of our time away trying to get back.

Alot has changed - My little girls are now 13 and 16 years and I need to chat about schools. We lived a few miles outside of Elgin last time we were up there and I dont think there were any "bad" high schools from what I remember, but tbh, having teenagers seemed a long way off for us back then, so I didnt pay much attention.

I know a bit about the new Curriculum for Excellence but am open to being told alot more but its schools I want to chat about.

As we are yet to choose where we live - we ideally want to plan it around good schools. We are prepared to drive a bit to work in order to get the right school.

DD1 who has just turned 16 (yr 11 here in England) may carryon boarding down here for 6th form but is considering sixth form up in Scotland.

DD2 will be 14 in May 2015 and is currently in Yr 9 down here.

I have a few contacts up in Elgin and Inverness but their kids left school a few years ago or are primary aged. I am led to believe Elgin Academy is the first choice for many in Elgin - but is this just because of its revamp??? I have also been told Nairn Academy is another very well respected school.

I would love to know some local opinions on all the high schools in the are. The list below are schools in areas we know and like but would love feedback on any we have forgotten about.

Elgin Academy
Elgin High
Lossiemouth
Milnes (is it closing and merging with somewhere else?)
Speyside
Grantown Grammar
Forres Academy

Really I just need some help - on both sixth form provision and high schools, please tell me anything you know.

And finally, can someone please tell me which Scottish school year my kids fall in to please?

Thank you in advance

Your DD1, just turned 16, would be in 5th year. Everyone who turned 16 after 1 March will be in 5th year, plus a few older ones who turned 16 in Jan or Feb, but deferred entry. Depending on how many deferred entries there are, about 60% of her year will be older than her and 40% younger.

Your DD2, 13 last May, would be in 2nd year.

Can't help with Morayshire schools, I'm afraid, though last time I drove through Fochabers there were big "Save Milnes" banners up. There is a "Save Milnes High" FB page.

Thankyou AberdeenAngusina. Its useful to know what year they will be in.

Bumping in the hope someone else local sees this and can add some input

Hello Hamble. I can't give advice on schools in Moray but wanted to say that if I was you (though you have probably already done this) I would read up on the Curriculum for Excellence as it is very different to the English GCSE and A Levels. Your elder daughter would be my main concern as she would be coming into 5th year half way through the year into a very different system. Instead of remaining in England to board for lower and upper sixth you could consider sending her to a more local Scottish Private school that follows the English curriculum, if funds allow, for those last 2 very important years. With regards your younger daughter it is not such a big issue. The biggest difference is that in England she is most likely doing around 10 GCSEs but in Scotland the Curriculum for Excellence only has between 6 and 8 subjects generally. It is a much narrower focus but they study the fewer subjects a bit more deeply (or at least that's what we're told). As she would be in 2nd year she would be able to slot in a lot easier I would think as they don't sit The Nationals until 4th year. Hope that helps.

I agree with motherstongue; I wouldn't want my child to move schools half way through 5th year.

However, apart from Gordonstoun, I can't think of any private schools in Moray.

Thank you for confirming what I already thought about moving my eldest.

She seems to want to stay in for 6th form where she already is and has even emailed me some forms to complete so she can sit the 6th form scholarship exams.

I looked at Gordonstoun - both my children went to school (a few years back) with 2 girls who moved onto there. It is way beyond our means financially, even with the help we get from our employer.

I will be very sad to have DD1 all the way down south but she seems happy about it. Thankfully my parents and her god mother live within 40 minutes of the school so I know she can get out and be well looked after if she needs too. It will be tough because she comes home every weekend at the moment.

I am relieved to know that DD2 should settle in OK and being in S2 to S3 is a real advantage.

Thanks for replying and hopefully someone local may be along soon with some opinions on the schools listed.

Elgin academy is good, not just the revamp. Don't know the others well enough to comment, but generally the schools are pretty decent in rural Scotland. Ime! I went to one, not on your list but in moray. Kids were from a wide socioeconomic demographic. Wide range of opportunities eg academic, art, music, sports etc.
Have you had a look at the HMIE reports? All online.

Oh, also Elgin good for 'incomers' lots of RAF folk over the years have helped eliminate parochial attitudes. Elgin lovely wee place too.