to ask for school recommendations in Scotland?

[inmyshoos]

Thinking of moving and currently dc go to a tiny rural 30 pupil school. They are happy there but i definitely feel they could do with more friends. Dd2 has no friends her own age as only one in her yr group.

We want to stay in Scotland and need to be within an 1hr/1.5hr of Glasgow.

Any one recommend anywhere that has smallish schools (dont want a huge culture shock for dcs) and can buy a prefereably detached 3 bed house for around 180-230k.

Happy being in the sticks as long as can do Glasgow in 1.5 hrs.

TIA

East Renfrewshire has, statistically, some of the best schools in Scotland. It is 20 minutes by train to the city centre and has good train links.

Giffnock, Busby, Clarkston, Waterfoot and Eaglesham are all doable in your budget. The latter 2 are small villages themselves .

The primary schools vary in size but the High Schools are large. (Which I feel is good at that age as it gives them more than one chance to make friends.)

Feel free to ask or PM any questions that you have.

Somewhere in the Central belt near Callander. Doune, Deanston, Strathyre, Aberfoyle, Killin, Crianlarich or anywhere round there. Small primary schools that feed into McLaren High in Callander.

Gryffe High school in Houston. Houston has good bus links to Glasgow (it takes about half an hour by bus).

An hour to an hour and a half from Glasgow is a pretty huge area btw...Edinburgh and Stirling are both only about an hour from Glasgow by train (well and by car without traffic)

Cardross near Helensburgh

springtime these are areas we have looked at. Also like the look of Mclaren High. Do you know the school at all? Would you recommend it?

and can buy a prefereably detached 3 bed house for around 180-230k

I think you are seriously under estimating house prices in Scotland if you think you will get a 3 bedroom , detached house on that budget.

In Edinburgh that will get you a one bedroom flat in an OK but not top-notch area,2 bed if you might down market.

I dont want to live in Edinburgh phaed and i know for a fact i can buy a 3 bed det house for my budget in lots of areas within an hour of Glasgow. However having lived in the Highlands for almost 10 years i have lost touch with where has good schools and i dont mean purely on a top results basis and also where is a decent place to live.

You can absolutely buy a 3 bedroom detached house within that budget, Phaedra.

In fact, you could go 4 or 5 bedrooms at the top end of that budget.

1.5 hours away from Glasgow does not equal Edinburgh!

We've just moved into a lovely 4 bed house about 2 hours from Glasgow, bought it for about £130k, so although we are slightly further away than you are aiming for, if you are looking for rural, you will have no problem finding a nice house I am sure.

Sorry I don't have any more useful advice, I just didn't want Phaedra's comment to put you off completely

I mentioned Edinburgh only to point out what a big area it was not knowing the OP was familiar with Scotland...but yes that budget is absolutely realistic for most of the places mentioned as possibilities.

Yes, I lived in Doune till I was 18 and attended McLaren. Great school then (90's) It has a huge catchment area so there is a great mix of feeder schools to choose from.

When I was there it was about 750 pupils, 4 seperate 1st year classes. So small enough that you really got to know the teachers and vice versa.

If I ever moved back to the area, I would have no hesitation in sending my kids there too.

Stirling has easy access to Glasgow and is nice to grow up in- I liked it anyway. House prices should be in range. Bridge of Allan is nice, direct trains to Glasgow in under 45 mins.

Largs Academy. Great school. Can't say without outing self but it has done wonders for some teens I know. Largs is a pretty (but touristy) seaside town with lots of lovely places in and around it to buy near the sea or inland. Close to Glasgow.

A number of friends have moved up Kinrosshire way. Milnathort seems to have become a favourite for quite a few.

Gryffe in Houston, Largs Academy, Belmont in Ayr, Marr College in Troon. All nice places to stay too. East Renfrewshire has already been mentioned but Williamwood, Woodfarm and St Ninian's all have excellent reputations. In my experience most schools cater well for their pupils. Have worked in 7 secondaries over the last 20 years. Kids who work hard and have good support at home generally do well.

springtime do you king steet in doune? Is it ok?

Have a look at Alloway (and Ayr) both catchments for Belmont (I second this as being a good school).

Alloway would also be catchment for Ayr Grammer primary school.

Or Alloway primary!

Ayr is maybe just a wee bit too far south of Glasgow. Have to go to Helensburgh/Oban fairly often so maybe just a bit far. Can Ayr be a wee bit snobby? Sorry any mnetters from Ayr, just remember when i worked there and definitely felt there was an element of snobbery!

Gryffe High in Houston has been an excellent school for years but it's usually full so it would be unlikely you'd get in if you're not in the catchment area

Until recently some areas of Houston weren't in the catchment area and people were moving within Houston to ensure they were in the right area

There are pockets of Ayr that can be a bit snobby (am looking at you Alloway & Doonfoot) but there a bits that are fine. Prestwick is a lovely wee town too. It's about 1hr in the car from Glasgow. A nice beach and a good view of Arran.

I wish I could sell my flat for what you think I'd get for it Phaedra!

Marr and Belmont I would avoid personally and I know what I am talking about. They are not bad schools but their reputation is historical.

East ren is I think possibly tight on your budget to get into catchments for good schools.

Prestwick I would recommend.

You may want to hold off a little bit as the exam result breakdown should be out soon.

Attheendof I don't know what area you're in but the figures I mentioned are easily achievable in say Bruntsfield, Stockbridge, Morningside and Marchmont for smaller flats and wouldn't get you anything in the New Town or the West End. Gorgie, Dalry and bits of Leith will be cheaper.