A positive start to secondary school can make a significant difference to young people’s wellbeing, engagement and learning. At Forrester, we want to ensure that all students get off to the best possible start. We work closely with primary schools to ensure that learners are ready for the move to Forrester and that we are ready to receive our new learners. It is normal for learners to feel a level of anxiety during transition. However, we understand that some learners can find this process more difficult and, in some cases, overwhelming. Where this is the case, we provide extra support and personalised programmes to make transition as smooth as possible.
At Forrester, we want to ensure that all students get off to the best possible start.
The Forrester Transition Booklet contains all the information pupils need to make a really good start to their time at Forrester. This booklet is updated each year and shared with P7 pupils and their teachers.
Annual Intake into S1 from Primary Schools
Catchment Students
Students who reside in the catchment area of Forrester High School do not have to follow any special enrolment procedure. In November each year, the Children and Families Department writes to parents whose children reside in Forrester’s catchment area advising that a place has been reserved for their child and giving information about making placing requests for non-catchment schools. Please note that attendance at an associated primary school only leads to automatic enrolment if the student lives in Forrester’s catchment area. If not, then the information given immediately below applies.
Non-Catchment Students
Parents of students who do not reside in the catchment area of Forrester High School but wish to apply for a place in the school should contact the Children and Families Department and thereafter complete and return form ST5 to the Department by mid-December. Requests made up to 31 July will be dealt with centrally by the Children and Families Department.
Preparations for Transfer
A great deal of preparatory work is done before your daughter/son joins our school. Careful liaison work with the primary school staff ensures that we have a good knowledge of levels of attainment, learning difficulties, health matters and other relevant issues before we allocate youngsters to tutor groups.
Students who move into the Catchment Area as Secondary Age School Students
Mr Stephen Rafferty, Headteacher, should be contacted by emailing the school, in order to arrange an enrolment appointment, subject to availability of places. If there are no places, the student’s name will be added to our waiting list and parents will be given a form to take to an alternative school. When their place becomes available, the student can transfer from another school.
Non-Catchment Students of Secondary Age whose parents wish them to Transfer to Forrester
Parents should contact the school, to arrange an enrolment appointment, subject to availability of places. If no places are available, the young person’s name will be added to a non-catchment waiting list.
If any parent is in doubt as to whether or not they live in the catchment area of the school, please contact the school office for support.
Information about catchment schools is published on the Edinburgh Council website. The City of Edinburgh Council also produce a very useful Interactive School Catchment Map which can be accessed by clicking below.