Primary schools/family areas in Edinburgh?

[ocelot41]

Absurdly excited - am in with a good shot at a job in Edinburgh, but last lived there many moons ago when was pre- DC. If I was successful, once I had stopped dancing, what would I do about a primary school transfer for DS? He has just turned 6 and is currently in Year 1 in an English state school. Which are more family oriented areas to live in?. OK, OK I know I am getting a bit ahead of myself here - just so excited!!!!

[SauvignonPlonker]

I'm guessing he could go in to either P1 or P2 if starting this school year. The cut- off here is the end of February. There does seem to be an issue with many primary schools being over-subscribed/full in P1 & having to wait for a place to come up once the academic year has started. P1 classes are usually a 1:20 ratio, in P2 it's 1:30.

In terms of areas, I would start by looking at the catchment secondary school & go from there. Royal High, Boroughmuir & James Gillespie's seem to do best in the league tables. I guess it also depends on whether you want to live in the city or suburbs.

Where would your new job be based?

[ocelot41]

Thanks for the tip. The job would be (in my dreams) Edinburgh Uni, George Square area. So I was thinking maybe South side. But my husband would be accompanying me and would look for a job when we got there. So would probably look to rent to start with,if we could manage that on one salary in Edinburgh!

[ocelot41]

Question: if you head for Morningside/Brunsfield, how do you avoid having students for neighbours? I know how many parties I had as an undergraduate!!!

[SauvignonPlonker]

I'd say there were more students in Polwarth & Marchmont, and in tenement flats in these areas. Less likely in detached homes & further out eg Morningside, Greenbank. No guarantees though! Are you planning on renting or buying?

[ocelot41]

Prob rent to start with. But I just need to get the job now!!!

[DowntonDiva]

I second Greenbank! It seems to be the cut off zone for students which I guess is because it's less accessible (buses etc) and further from the amenities.

[Groovee]

We live in Corstorphine. Easy access into town, lots of shopping areas and good transport links. Schools are still oversubscribed though. Renting is reasonable here though. You could rent then look as to where you would prefer to buy.

[ocelot41]

Thanks folks. Do Edinburgh Mumsnetters have meets at all? If I am lucky enough to get this (and its a real dream job) I will know exactly 2 people in the whole city...

[StatisticallyChallenged]

You could also look further up in to Blackford which tends to be more family orientated rather than students but still good for access to George Square. Edinburgh isn't that big though and there are dozens of buses that go straight up the Bridges from just about every corner of the city. I'd say you get fewer students in New Town/Comely Bank/Stockbridge which are all catchment for good schools but still central. Corstorphine as mentioned is nice with good schools, Davidson's Mains primary has a very good reputation too, as does Blackhall.

Re school, a lot of the busier primaries have started keeping aside a space or 2 in P1 for children who move in to the catchment area, so you may get lucky. When did he turn 6? If he turned 6 in February (or earlier) then you'd be looking at him being in Primary 2 now (so going up to P3 in August) - class size restrictions ease in P3 too so depending how quickly you'd be moving this might help you.

[ocelot41]

Thanks for the tips! He is a Feb birthday

[snep]

We're in North Edinburgh, but I bus or walk to George Square everyday - it takes around half an hour on the bus.

My DD will be going into P2 next academic year (which of course starts in August here, rather than September in England).

Feel free to PM me for more details - I'm attempting (badly) not to out myself on here!

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

You could also look outside Edinburgh as transport links tend to be good. I lived in penicuik for a while, pretty decent schools direct bus into Edinburgh which comes into the end of town you need. With a February birthday you'd have your choice of him moving into P2 or 3 when you come up if it's before August. He'd have age peers in both years as a significant number of Jan/Feb birthdays are deferred.

[ocelot41]

Wow thanks for the geat Auld Reekie welcome. Great to know there are
some friendly MNetters out there as we would be leaving some really solid friendships here (for DS and us) and that is the only thing that makes me feel sad.

Buuut...mainly I want to turn back flips at the idea of going back. In fact, I have to make myself not to go crazy as I haven't even put the job app in yet. I am a bit worried about DH though - being the 'accompanying spouse' without a job to go to yourself ...not so fun, esp for someone who is ambitious. I wouldn't like it, so, guilt....

At the same time, Edinburgh is a bloody beautiful place to live and we both LOVE it. Even got married there risks outing self

[ocelot41]

One question - will DS be teased for having an Eng accent? I don't mind a bit of jibbing as I am a grown up (and I am a Northerner, rather than having an RP accent, so it tends to be pretty benign teasing anyway). But for a little boy who has just moved away to a new area and away from all his friends? I know it happens, but I really would prefer to avoid that....

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I'm sure your DH will pick up a decent job :)

I should imagine accent wise you would be fine, Edinburgh is pretty cosmopolitan. I'm not in Edinburgh any more, I'm in Stirling and no-one here would bat an eyelid.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

I think you'd be fine accent wise too, especially given the sort of areas you are looking at - I grew up in a fairly rough Edinburgh council estate where an English accent was more remarkable but I'm in the New Town now and DD's school has so many different accents that I'm not sure the kids would even notice tbh!

[Alwaysinahurrynow]

I know lots of young children and very few have an obvious Scottish accent especially in the areas you are considering. Edinburgh is a fab place to bring up kids. We moved when I was pregnant with DS1. The only thing that I have found is that it can be hard to make friends especially when you are working full-time. Lots of people grew up here or stayed post uni and have a very established group of friends and it's taken a few years of hard work to get us into a regular social group. Now it's great though and we're loving it.

[ocelot41]

If I move up and am ocelotnomates, can I come and whimper on here gently, to see if anyone will come out for a pint/wine/dram with me?

[OneMagnumisneverenough]

I'm sure some local Mnetters will come out with you OP :)

[Alwaysinahurrynow]

Definitely having been there, I'm always up for meeting new people.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

Count me in too

[Groovee]

Working in nursery a lot of children have an accent. It's quite common to to have a broad Edinburgh accent in some places.

[Groovee]

Not to have that should have said.

[StatisticallyChallenged]

That's true actually, the posher end of the Edinburgh accent spectrum is sometimes mistaken for English IME

[ocelot41]

Just to be clear - I would love DS to grow up with an Edinburgh accent - I love it! Just don't want him to be picked on for sounding like a Sarf Londoner....Thanks to all you friendly people, I now just have to put together a belter of an application and pray I get to come back to the Beautiful North.