Outside catchment area but attending a feeder school

[APcreator]

On moving to Aberdeenshire I noticed that people in Scotland aren't as obsessed with school catchment areas, so maybe this plan would work. I want my children to go to Banchory Academy, one of the best academies in Scotland. But I don't want to move house and am not in the catchment area. But, if you apply to any primary school in scotland which is under enrolled they have to accept you. And in Aberdeenshire they are good at accepting primary school applications outside of the area if they have space. As Banchory academy includes rural areas in its catchment area could I apply for my kids to attend one of the rural primary schools and drive them in.

The big question...as a feeder school to Banchory Academy, would my kids automatically be enrolled, or would the fact they live outside the catchment area meam they would have to go to an academy different to all their friends and closer to their home?

Thanks

You would need to look at the specific admissions criteria for the school.

We have feeder schools which are given preference over a child who lives next door to the school but not in a feeder school. But even above the feeder school is a children of staff criteria!

There should also be information on the council website for how many places were allocated previously and under what criteria. It may be different in Scotland, I don't know.

We don't have "catchment" areas where I am just applications and if the school can accommodate then it does, but if they are over-subscribed then geography and proximity to the school become important.

"It may be different in Scotland, I don't know."

It is completely different in Scotland, where, if you live in catchment (and all schools have one) then you get a place at that school.

So if you are outwith the catchments of the feeder primaries, you might not get a place. It is their catchment that feeds, not all those attending via placement requests. But do check specifically what applies for these specific catchments.

Thanks, yes checking the council website it seems even if I managed to get into a primary school that feeds into the academy, I'd still have to put in a request for kids to attend an academy outside my catchment area, but attending that primary would be considered as a reason when they decide. But they wouldn't evem consider it if the academy has no spaces. Looks like actually moving may be best.

Just wanted to point out here that 'academies' in Scotland aren't the same thing as in England. Here it's no different from a 'High School'.

Yes, quite right they're all academies. Apart from private schools.

Hello!

My kids go to Banchory Academy (we live in Banchory so it is their nearest school). They are some kids that attend from Kincardine O Neil and Finzean, and maybe even further away. I don't think the school is over subscribed but I can't be sure.

Worth bearing in mind, none of their school friends will be easily accessible socially if you drive in some distance. Also, you'll forever be a taxi driver.

Whereabouts do you stay presently?

Oh.....one more thing. I have first hand experience of a couple of the feeder schools, so if you're seriously considering it, p.m me.

It's worth checking the school handbook and/or with the school to see if it is close to capacity. Although a lot could change in the intervening years that your children are in primary (you don't say how old they are).

Having said that, ds' secondary (in Glasgow, so not much help ) looks like it is close to capacity, but to date the school has been able to accept all placing requests (think last year it was c40 ) - and it could take more as if the roll goes above a certain number, it could increase the number of teachers and thereby its capacity (Although it's had the knock on consequence of no S6 common room ).