High Schools in Edinburgh

[AHal]

Hello Awesome Ladies,
I cannot find any recent thread on this topic so here goes my question:
We are looking to relocate to Edinburgh and are researching the our options regarding the public High Schools. We need to stay within a easy commute to central EDI radius for my husband otherwise we are open to recommendations. Gillespie and Boroughmuir both sound magic, but surely there are other great High Schools within more affordable yet still nice areas??
Please share your thoughts!
Thanks :)

Everywhere in Edinburgh is super commutable! Buses, trams & even train over from fife is great. It really depends what side of town you want to live & size of houses. Also what type of child you have will be a factor. Schools are all pretty modern with great sporting facilities but some are more academic. Broughton High is amazing for gifted children in sport, music, drama etc. I would choose the area then the school.

St Thomas Asquin’s is very central, Royal High has a good rep and mixed catchment, also Broughton High School which is towards the leith side of town.

By public school, I’m assuming you mean local authority run and not fee paying?

Don’t come to Fife. The High school situation in West Fife is an utter car crash at the moment. Avoid!

I just re-read your post and you just need to be communtable distance to Edinburgh so I’d look at North Berwick and Dunbar in to the East.

Linlithgow to the west.

Even out to fife, all within half hour train journey.

Thanks for your messages!

Invisimamma: yes, I mean local authority school - never lived in Scotland so I'm a little behind on the lingo :)

PiffPaffPoff: We would preferably like to stay within Edinburgh so Fife is not on our radar :D

Portobello High. It's a good school with a fantastic new campus, you can live near the beach, and be in the city centre in 20 mins on good bus routes (or cycle in on nice cycle paths if that's your thing). Prices have risen in the last few years, but it's still more affordable than Gillespies or Boroughmuir catchments. I'll admit to being biased, but I think Portobello's the best place in Edinburgh to live for quality of life, community and proximity to everything the city has to offer.

Balarno high school. Ratho village is in its catchment. I grew up there and went to same school

There is a brilliant new railway to the borders as well. Melrose is a lovely place to live and is in the catchment area of Earlston High School named along with North Berwick High as the only schools in Scotland to get listed in Tattlers best local authority schools in the UK.

Based on league tables, the best performing schools are those from richer areas as parents are generally more involved in their children’s education, expectations are higher and kids are encouraged to do their best. Likewise in poorer areas, there is generally less parental involvement and this is reflected in their exam results. However most high school catchments in Edinburgh have a mixture of all social classes.

I’m very much of the opinion that If your child wants to learn and doesn’t have any SEN, then they’ll do well at virtually any high school in Edinburgh. All schools have good teachers & some not so good teachers, as well as little neds / bullies, and all schools have parents who encourage their kids and those who don’t give a dam.

Our DD is in 2nd year at what some people would class a ‘less desirable’ school, and before she started there we did consider moving house to get her into a ‘better’ school, however one visit to her local school put our minds at rest. DD is loving school, she has great teachers and has made some lovely friends, and so long as she continues to work hard, we have no doubt she’ll be able to study at a university of her choice.

So in answer to OP, I would look for a nice house in an area you can afford, and it’s likely the catchment high school will be fine.