whilst private schools will always have their place, the public schools are fantastic, the more rural you are the smaller the classes, we use to live in aberdeenshire and my daughter was in classes with less than 17 pupils, the teachers are always able to spend time with students, and run study classes after schools for pupils that are struggling. Also the schools are very, very big and the bullying issues, operating zero tolerence!!! It may be "wet dark in winter, but we have just enjoyed a fantastic may with weather that would match the south of england in the peak of summer..... true its not always like that, but it all contributes, to the beautiful and breath taking scenery. Scotland has its bad areas as all countries, but the more rural you are, the more awesome it gets!!