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Original poster

Been priced out- having to move DC's school?

37 replies

greenvoid · 05/02/2025 08:59

I have 2 DC, years P1&P3 (Scotland). DC love their school and are thriving, plus they love their extra curricular clubs. They are doing so well and I'm so proud of them. We moved to this area a few years ago to a 2 bed flat with the intention of upsizing in a few years in the same area. We picked a 2 bed for a quick move as seller was already out and we needed to move quite fast. However, the price of houses here have gone up considerably. DC aren't the same gender so need their own room plus I'm pregnant (unexpectedly). Our max budget for a house is £250k and the cheapest 3 bedroom houses where we are are offers over £280k (in Glasgow it's generally 20% over asking for those that don't know). 4 bedrooms, which is what we would ideally like are offers over £360k. Neither are affordable for us. We don't know what to do. I'm soooooo against moving DC but I don't see what else I can do? DD got so upset when I mentioned the notion of it the other day, as she's already have to move schools in P1 and is really settled here. We have no possibility of an extension here. AIBU to ask what you'd do if you were me? I feel terrible at the thought of it Sad

OP posts:
anonhop · 05/02/2025 09:56

Even if older dc are at the school, won't your youngest get in? In England its catchment based but if an older sibling attends then they get in regardless I think

Brainfogblue · 05/02/2025 09:54

Moving in p1 and p3 is better than moving when a bit older . I think you are going to have to move . Your DC may be upset but you will find the positives and frame it for them accordingly whilst they settle in somewhere new . They will come up against all sorts of issues over the years that you will need to support them through . This is a hold your nose and jump scenario

oddandelsewhere · 05/02/2025 09:52

Which school is it?

oddandelsewhere · 05/02/2025 09:46

I was brought up in Glasgow, and everyone I knew lived in a flat. Would it be possible to buy a large flat, you could possibly use one of those bunk bed dividers to give the children more privacy. Victorian Glasgow flats have large rooms, and often a box room which would be fine for a baby.

pinkdelight · 05/02/2025 09:31

You've got to move, there's no choice as you're going to have 3 DC soon and even your 2 DC doesn't work with your home. Much better to do it in P1&3 than later. Your DC will be fine. Go somewhere that you can afford a good 4-bed family home. That should be doable on your budget in other places further out.

Original poster
greenvoid · 05/02/2025 09:28

@Octavia64 that's true, but youngest DC (as in the one I'm pregnant with) won't get in, younger DC will still be there by that point.

OP posts:
WifeImprovementWorksInProgress · 05/02/2025 09:19

Could you afford something slightly out of area and then travel in for school? Obviously I'm thinking a up to a 20ish min drive, not an hour and a half bus!

Rent out yours and rent a 3 bed in your area (you'd have to crunch the numbers carefully).

What is your realistic view on your finances in the next 3-4 yrs, will you be able to afford it then? If so, can't they can share for a bit longer while you put everything into saving to move?

If truly none of these are feasible then moving them sooner rather than later will be better I'd have thought ☹️ Definitely choose the house and area very carefully so that you can actually be comfortable and settled.

Good luck!

3cats2kids1dog · 05/02/2025 09:14

Once your kids are in the school, the council will not remove them if you move out of catchment.... you might have to do a longer school run, but no need to move the school

Octavia64 · 05/02/2025 09:13

If DC are not the same gender they still might be able to share until older.

I had two kids and they voluntarily shared until age 11 (we had a spare bedroom instead).

Original poster
greenvoid · 05/02/2025 09:12

@Hufflemuff that's true, but Glasgow is big and there are only the prices I mentioned that are within the catchment of DC's school. The second bedroom is already a loft conversion.

OP posts:
Hufflemuff · 05/02/2025 09:10

Hmm, when you Rightmove it, there's 106 houses which are all 3 beds in Glasgow. 4 beds i agree is almost impossible, but perhaps you can convert a dining room into a bedroom, or do a loft conversion in a few years time?

Upstartled · 05/02/2025 09:10

Do you think you could bridge the gap to the three bed home over the next couple of years? If you can foresee that then I'd hang tight and keep them in the same school.

If that is too optimistic, I'd pull the ripcord now and move further to get the four bed that you want.