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

Trinity.

It doesn't matter, only in terms that it might put people off even looking in Edinburgh when there's a greater range than you might think. Still silly prices of course. It makes me weep to see what I could get in the west coast.

Houston, which I'd say can be pricey has several houses on Right move - 4 bedroom detached for £230k so I don't think the prices are under estimated

I stay about 10 mins from Houston and there are 4 bed town houses in my street for around £180k

No, I stayed at the other end of the village but that part of Doune is quite quiet. The roads there don't really go anywhere so no through traffic. Opposite the park, 5 mins from the primary and nice walks 5 mins the other way.

The hillfoots are nice op. Alva, Tillicoultry, Menstrie, Dollar. Muckhart has a very small primary.

I live in one of those 'snobby' areas and live it. Not snobby but friendly. Alloway, doonfoot and Ayr grammar are all popular as is St. John's. Belmonts reputation is historical, QMA is great for smaller class sizes.

milngavie or linlthgow

not sure why you are looking at south of glasgow when you need to go to helensburgh and oban frequently surely north of the cylde would make more sense, drymen gartocharn ( nice village school)

teacup purely because you get more for your money and also we have friends in East Ayrshire as lived there for years.

Love Gartocharn and Drymen but never much for sale in Gartocharn and Drymen i would maybe get a new build in a little estate but that isnt what we are after.

Found a lovely one in Doune. Needs major work and isnt detached and doesnt have driveway but it is a huge family house, decent back garden and looks a good spot. I keep hearing Phil and Kirsty in my head 'Every house is a compromise!!'

Dunblane may just be manageable on your Budget. There are three primarys 2 fairly large (double stream) and one very small which is attached to a church. All have a good name and the High School is one of the top in the Country - all the High Schools in the Stirling area are around the 800 pupil mark. Bridge of Allan has a big range of housing some mega bucks but is a nice area - again the primary is double stream. Allans primary is the smallest in the Stirling and is right in the centre of town. It's a lovely area of the country with a rural feel and has loads of outdoor and sporting opportunities and is handy for Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Also agree with the Callendar etc recommendations - Some places can be a bit off putting to non locals so I would maybe be careful about some of the Hillfoots towns and places south of Stirling, but that's just my personal view

myother would be very interested to know which places south of Stirling you'd avoid. Asked estate agent in Stirling same question and he said all pretty good ()
Pm me if you would rather not say on here.

You would be struggling to get a 3 bed detached in east Renfrewshire (clarkston/busby/eaglesham) for that budget - we are looking in a similar are up to £275k and would be pushed to get a semi in a good catchment. Same for Bearsden. Strathaven in south Lanarkshire is good with a highly rates secondary. Otherwise I would look at dunblane or Crieff/Comrie but you might need to increase your budget

North Ayrshire might be worth serious consideration, there are small primaries in Skelmorlie, Fairlie & West Kilbride. The first 2 are feeder schools for Largs Academy & many children ( my own included) from WK go to Largs on placing requests. You would have a bit of choice on properties. They are all good places to live & well connected to Glasgow ( in Skelmorlie you aren't far from the Erskine Bridge). I can say my DS have done well at Largs & at WK.

Breadalbane academy in Aberfeldy?

East Renfrewshire is mainly nice but is getting a bit Stepford Wives for my liking. However, it's really well connected and pretty. I went to St Ninian's in Eastwood, which has a great reputation.

Having grown up in Dunblane (and still visiting regularly), i'd say it can be very snobby.

Yes, Dunblane High has an excellent reputation, but isn't great if your kids aren't extremely academic. Similarly, although it has a good reputation, historically that has been because virtually all pupils have had tutors for various subjects at Higher. For a high school though, its pretty small, which can be a plus.

It is a nice wee town, hourly train service to Glasgow (50 mins), more frequent from Stirling, but i'd be wary.

Not sure if Edinburgh isn't a bit urban! If you have got to go into Argyll for work, why don't you have a look there? Lovely wee village schools but not sure about house prices...

Lanark? Aberdour?

it won't seem to let me PM you - my own experience was Denny, but I would put Plean, Cowie etc in a similar bracket. Might be different now, I'm talking 10 years ago when they first starting building new build estates in these small towns and I think it was very much a "them and us" attitude. I was brought up on a rough council estate in Edinburgh, lived in various places including Penicuik, but just couldn't settle in Denny at all and felt very much treated as an outsider. As I say, it may be different now that these estates are more established and there are more of them.

Dumbarton Academy is a really good school, as is Our Lady & St Patrick's in Dumbarton. Lots of housing, a large number of new-builds in progress too.

Lenzie is another place that has an excellent Secondary school.

Rofl at stepford wives in east ren.

Deary me CoreyTrevor- you're clearly meeting up with the wrong people

IMHO tends to be the folk who come from out of catchment for extra curricular activities/parks etc who are stepfordy. Not sure who they feel they have to prove to!

I put in a search and see loads of properties within your budget in my area op. will pm you, also pm the areas of stirling to avoid!

Haha - step ford wives. True.

Prob too far duty but an hour and a bit from. Glasgow, Dumfries and Galloway. Fantastic quality of living, cheaper houses than central belt and excellent schools.

Edinburgh an hour and a half away.