Expat parents will be glad to know that the standard of education and schools in Aberdeen is generally high. With two universities dating back centuries and still ranking among the best in Scotland, learning is part of the city’s fabric.
Both state (public) and independent (private) schools are available in Aberdeen, though most children attend state schools. Education Scotland conducts regular inspections of all schools, the results of which can be accessed online.
Government schools in Aberdeen
Expats can choose from various primary and secondary schools in the city, many of which have good reputations.
Aberdeen’s schools follow the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence, which divides schooling into two phases. The first phase is a compulsory Broad General Education, beginning at Nursery (ages 3 or 4) and continuing through Primary (P1 to P7, ages 5 to 11) and three years of Secondary (S1 to S3, ages 12 to 15). At age 16, compulsory education is complete. The Senior Phase starts in S4 at age 16 and concludes with S6 at age 18.
Pupils generally attend a school based on where they live. An out-of-zone placement request can be submitted if you wish to send your child to a different state school. These requests are usually granted as long as the school in question has places available.
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Independent schools in Aberdeen
There aren't many options for independent schools in Aberdeen. With few to choose from, parents may find it difficult to secure a spot for their child.
Unlike public schools, private schools charge fees. Given the good public education options available in Aberdeen, many expats decide that private education is an unnecessary expense.
That said, private schools offer a number of benefits, such as smaller class sizes, superior facilities, and diverse extracurricular programmes. If expats decide to go this route, it's best to enquire and apply early.
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International schools in Aberdeen
There is just one international school in Aberdeen: the International School of Aberdeen. The school is one of just a handful in Scotland teaching the well-regarded International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.
The IB curriculum is a standardised global curriculum, taught at thousands of schools around the globe. It significantly eases the transition between two schools, even in different countries, making it the ideal choice for globally mobile families.
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Special educational needs in Aberdeen
Aberdeen's special needs programme is based on three major facets: inclusivity, early intervention and participation, and effective resource targeting.
Different levels of care are allocated according to each child's needs. Milder cases may only require assistance from the child's class teacher (universal support), while slightly more severe cases might warrant assistance on a school-wide basis involving several staff members (targeted support). Children who require the highest level of care will receive specialised assistance from multiple parties, both internal and external to the school (multi-agency support).
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Tutors in Aberdeen
Tutors can easily be found in Aberdeen, both online and in person. Expat children, in particular, can benefit from tutors in a number of ways, such as catching up with the Scottish curriculum, learning English, or maintaining the family's mother tongue.
More general skills can also be taught by tutors, like study skills and essay writing. They can also help students brush up for major exams.