At ESMS, the Admissions process is different for nursery, primary and secondary entry.
Welcome to ESMS Nursery. We are delighted that you are considering ESMS for your son or daughter The following pages will tell you everything you need to know about our admissions process. we are always on hand to answer any questions you have and to arrange a tour of our Nursery and the wider School.
Mrs Rhona Watt (our Head of Nursery) or Mrs Alison Lydon (our Senior Deputy Head of Early Education) would be delighted to meet you, show you our facilities and answer any questions you may have.
You can contact me by email: jsadmissions@esms.org.uk or by phone, Tel: +44(0)131 311 1115.
When to apply
It is never too early to apply for a place in our Nursery. Many parents do so as soon as their baby is born. Places are offered by date of application, although we do give some priority to siblings and the need to ensure a balance of boys and girls. It is, however, always worth getting in touch if your child is a little older as spaces do sometimes become available due to family relocation etc.
The vast majority of children in our Nursery move on into Primary 1 without the need for assessment. Fewer places are available for entry into Primary 1, so applying for a place in our Nursery is strongly advised.
Come and visit us
The best way to find out about our Nursery is to come along for a visit, meet our teachers and see the children at play. Please contact our Admissions Manager, Cally Graham, to arrange a tour.
Applying for an ESMS Junior School place
Welcome to ESMS Junior School. We are delighted that you are considering ESMS for your child. My name is Cally Graham and I am the Admissions Manager here at the Junior School. The following pages will tell you everything you need to know about our admissions process. I am always on hand to answer any questions you have and to arrange a tour of our School.
A member of our Leadership Team would be delighted to meet you and give a tour of our facilities.
You can contact me by email: admissionsjs@esms.org.uk or by phone, Tel: +44(0)131 311 1115 at any time.
Building friendships and getting children prepared
You can join The Junior school at any time from Nursery to Primary 7. While you can join ESMS at any time, we find that the earlier children join the better they will do in every aspect of their education.
Children joining Primary 1 and 2 enjoy small class sizes, a range of specialist lessons and a dedicated full time Teacher Assistant for each class ensuring that every child is nurtured and challenged.
For parents wishing to leave their applications until later up the school we recommend you start in Primary 6. There are fewer spaces in Primary 7 and families leaving it till this point can be left disappointed. Primary 6 is also a great time to join for social and educational reasons. It gives our teachers two years to fill in any gaps in their learning and ensure they are prepared academically for Senior School. Socially we form new classes at the start of Primary 6 by mixing up our own Primary 5 children and adding new ones which means that new boys and girls find easier to settle in. The boys and girls then have two years to build strong friendships which they will take with them into Senior School. The vast majority of children in our Primary 7 move on into Senior 1.
About our School assessments
Our School assessments can be arranged at any time during the school year although most take place between October and April and for those living far away from Edinburgh, we may be able to send out entrance papers or arrange for the assessment to be administered by your child’s current school. Primary 1, 2 and 3 assessments are carried out in a one-to-one situation with a senior teacher who will put your child at ease and make the session fun. Primary 4-7 children are assessed in small groups. There is no pass mark for any of our assessments, we just want to make sure that we can meet the needs of your child.
We allocate places for some of our Year Groups by January so it is a good idea to get your application in early. However, if you haven’t managed to apply in time don’t despair. We do sometimes have late vacancies, so it is always worth getting in touch and we will endeavour to find your child a place.
Come and visit us
The best way to find out about our School is to come along for a visit. Tours of Primary 1, 2 and 3 are undertaken by Mrs Alison Lydon, Senior Deputy Head of Early Education so you can see the children enjoying their school day and have the opportunity to ask lots of questions. Our Primary 4-7 tours are led by the children themselves so that you and your child can find out everything you need to know from the people who know our school the best. Please contact our Admissions Manager, Cally Graham, to arrange a tour.
How to apply
Once you have submitted your form I will contact you to discuss your application. Please note that a non refundable application fee of £90 per child will be taken in the final step of the application process.
Assessment
The Entrance Assessment for S1 is held in January each year, and includes papers in Mathematics, English and Verbal Reasoning. For overseas applicants or those some distance from Edinburgh, we are able to send out entrance papers to be administered in the applicant's current school.
When to apply
It is helpful if applications are submitted by end of December before the proposed year of entry, but please get in touch at any time to discuss further.
Missed this year's Entrance Assessment?
We are happy to receive applications at any time following Entrance Assessment day and we will always do our best to offer places if they are available.
Offers
We make offers to children assessed in January on the offer date agreed with other Edinburgh Independent schools. This is usually in mid-February.
How to apply
Once you have submitted your form a member of our admissions staff will contact you to discuss your application. Please note that a non refundable application fee of £90 per child will be taken in the final step of the application process. Please have your debit or credit card ready.
Assessment
Assessments for pupils entering S2 and S3 include papers in English, Mathematics and Verbal Reasoning. We will also seek references/reports from your child's current school.
When to apply
We are happy to receive applications at any time during the year prior to proposed entry. However, we would encourage you to apply early in the session prior to the proposed year of entry. Please contact the admissions department for details of available places.
How to apply
Once you have submitted your form a member of our admissions staff will contact you to discuss your application. Please note that a non refundable application fee of £90 per child will be taken in the final step of the application process. Please have your debit or credit card ready.
Entrance to S4 is possible only in exceptional circumstances: this is the second year of the two year National 5 qualification and a change of school between S3 and S4 is rarely advisable. However, if there are reasons which necessitate a change of schools, we would consider these on an individual basis.
How to apply
Once you have submitted your form a member of our admissions staff will contact you to discuss your application. Please note that a non refundable application fee of £90 per child will be taken in the final step of the application process. Please have your debit or credit card ready.
Entrance criteria
There is no formal assessment for entrance to S5 at Stewart's Melville College or The Mary Erskine School, but an offer is subject to references/reports from your child's current school and predicted examination results. Your child should also have strong passes at National 5 or GCSE equivalent in the subjects they are planning to study in S5.
When to apply
We are happy to receive applications at any time during the year prior to proposed entry.
How to apply
Once you have submitted your form a member of our admissions staff will contact you to discuss your application. Please note that a non refundable application fee of £90 per child will be taken in the final step of the application process. Please have your debit or credit card ready.
Entrance criteria
Students entering the ESMS Sixth Form will be expected to take a minimum of three courses, at Higher or Advanced Higher.
Applications to the Sixth Form are handled on an individual basis. We will seek references and reports from your son or daughter's current school, and invite students for an interview with the Director of Sixth Form.
When to apply
We are happy to receive applications at any time during the year prior to proposed entry.
How to apply
Once you have submitted your form a member of our admissions staff will contact you to discuss your application. Please note that a non refundable application fee of £90 per child will be taken in the final step of the application process. Please have your debit or credit card ready.
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