Info needed on urgent basis about primary school admission for my son!

Hi Ash,

Welcome to Scotland.

If your husband is working in Dundas Street then the most obvious area to live in would indeed be the New Town. It's expensive, but you'll be in a beautiful and convenient area of town. Another super area is Stockbridge which would still be within easy walking distance of Dundas Street. Another possibility is the Dean Village or the West End. They would still be within about a 20/25 minute walk. So much depends on your budget and tastes - but hopefully these central areas are a start.

With regard to schools, the closest fee-paying school to Dundas Street would be the Edinburgh Academy in Stockbridge (only a few minutes walk from Dundas Street.) It has an excellent reputation and would be very convenient: http://edinburghacademy.hostinguk.org/Admissions

Another fee paying possibility is Stewart's Melville Junior School which is located at Ravelston Dykes not far from the Dean Village: http://www.esms.edin.sch.uk/JS.aspx . This School is about a 20 minute walk west from the city centre and therefore another convenient possibility.

Another fee-paying possibility, which is located a little further afield to the south of the city centre, is George Watsons College based in Merchiston. This is a good 2/3 miles south west of the New Town and therefore may be not quite as convenient if you want to stay nearer your husband's work. The website is: http://www.gwc.org.uk/OurSchool/JuniorSchool/index.html

With regard to state schools (non-fee paying schools), the closest ones to the New Town and your husband's work (that come to mind) are:

1. Stockbridge Primary School which is only a 5-10 min walk from Dundas Street: http://stockbridgeschool.org.uk/ . This would be the most convenient if you chose to stay in the New Town.

2. Broughton Primary School at Broughton Road (10/15 mins walk North East from city centre): http://www.hopeloveandconfidence.com/broughtonprimary/#

3. Flora Stevenson Primary School at Comely Bank (15/20 mins walk west of city centre: http://www.florastevensonprimary.org/ 

The Learning and Teaching Scotland website http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/ should have all the information you need when looking for a school. They list Scottish exam results, inspection reports and contact info for every school in Scotland.

If you wish to find out more about private fee-paying schools in Scotland then visit the Scottish Council of Independent Schools website http://www.scis.org.uk/

I hope this helps. Your best bet is probably the Edinburgh Academy (fee paying) and Stockbridge Primary School (State school).

Hope you have a wonderful time in Edinburgh. It is a truly magical city.

David


Ps - as it's likely you'll want to stay in the New Town - here's a little more info on it: http://www.scotlandcityguide.com/New-To … 612%29.htm

Hi David,
Thank you so much for all your information.It has been a big help.I will be in Edinburgh next week with my husband and child for a look and see trip for school admissions and house search.Will definitely keep your advice in mind.

Once again thank you.If people in your city are as helpful and kind as you I am glad I will be making this city my home for the next two years .


Bye and take care
Ash

Hi,

I totally agree with David. However, your son does not have to go to the school in his catchment area if there are spaces at other schools. We learned this the hard way:)
We looked at Stockbridge Primary and it's a wonderful school but not very diverse. We also couldn't find anywhere to live in the area (too small, very expensive.)
We ended up at Tollcross Primary which is wonderful. Very diverse and very good in terms of learning. We live in the West End, but will be moving to Dean Village in 2 weeks. So if you're looking for a super nice flat with a shared garden, let me know:)
Also,  keep in mind that everything is really really close in Edinburgh. You can easily live in the West End and work at Dundas Street.

Katrine

We moved to an area expecting to go to the school in the catchment area.  When we went to register(mid-term, Jan.) They said there were no more openings. We tried several schools close by, but also no openings.  We ended up at Tollcross as well, which so far has been good.

Well, though this post is old, I am looking help exactly on this topic. I would be moving in to Stenhouse Drive EH11 3HA. I would be comming in month of May/June 2013 and have a kid born Sep 2007. Will it be difficult to get him admitted to a catchment school? Also how affordable/costly are the fee-paying schools and is it easier to get a seat in mid-session there?