To think London commute towns are no better than Edinburgh for raising a family?

[JenXG]

So basically DH and I are having a debate on whether to leave Edinburgh and move to a commute town outside London. (we have to stick with Edinburgh / London as working in financial sector but both of us would avoid London because of traffic/pollution/crowded streets).

The main reason for DH favouring those commute towns is that they seem to have loads of good schools for DS (4mo) to choose from compared to Edinburgh where there are only a few (or hardly any if his standard). He has high hope for DS. Also the A-level system is widely recognised across different countries (so potential for studying overseas) but the same cant be said for the Scotland system.

My worry is that we are giving up preferred lifestyle for a very small difference in schooling. I grew up in a big city and always need busy streets nearby. I understand some places such as Guildford will have its own town centre but there are still fewer things going on compared to Edinburgh. For example, there are a wide range of fine restuarants, several theatres & cinemas, pubs, etc in Edinburgh but living in Guildford we'd still have to go to London for a night out? I'd assume activities for young kids are more available in Edinburgh than in Guildford? E.g. Edinburgh has a zoo, lots of museums, and a coastline where you can do kayaking. Also Guildford is one of the busier towns as I understand. Some other commute towns are even quieter. So we'd highly likely end up travelling to London a lot which is not fun (I'm far more used to walking or driving a little bit to favourite places than hours of trains/tubes).

What do people think? I haven't been to many places in the southern area. Maybe I have misunderstood what life would be like there? Would you relocate if you were us?

I'd being staying in Edinburgh and sending the DH to Guildford

Sabrina Oh, and I’m sceptical because this particular poster claims to live in the New Town on this thread, yet on a thread from a couple of days ago they live a mile from the nearest town

Well, if you'd stalked a little more in earnest, you'd have discovered that I'm a landlord (a recent one) and have lived in my flat in the New Town til recently.

So be sceptical indeed but don't unduly try to make a fool out of people because they aren't a fan of the SNP. Or is this what awaits Scotland?

I have no idea why I thought Chris Boardman's poor mother was killed by a driver in Edinburgh. For some reason I actually remember reading about it happening near Portobello, but having checked the awful tragedy did happen in North Wales. Why on earth I thought that I do not know and I hope her death isn't being used to start an internet farce. My point remains that Edinburgh isn't great for cycling in because the roads are narrow and busy, and the traffic is heavy.

But I really don't like Scotland that much and I hope to get another job and move away relatively soon. This sort of attitude (of pouring scorn on anyone who criticises it) is one of the reasons I don't like it. Also the attitude that everything here is perfect. It just reminds me a bit too much of the thinking behind the Soviet Union, where everyone had to pretend everything was wonderful when it wasn't. I haven't felt like this in other countries I've lived in and I do find it quite oppressive.

Oh and really, saying Scots students aren't interested in Oxbridge is ridiculous. Students travel from all over the world to study at Oxford and Cambridge even though their own countries contain world renowned universities. If Scots students aren't willing to travel to another part of the UK, then perhaps we should be asking what is holding them back (compared to international students), not giving them a pat on the back and telling them they're wonderful for not going.

Visit a non SNP area and find out what isn't great about Scotland

Guildford is... affluent and bland. I'd stay in Edinburgh if I were you. Londoner here.

You have a 4mth baby and you’ve discounted fettes as too low grade.haha
You are aware in the intervening 4.5 years your baby genius will just be a regular kid
Guildford and Home Counties are waaay more expensive than Edinburgh
Different countries different lifestyles and pressures

I don’t understand your issue with Scottish schools , pupils can and do study and work worldwide

AlizarinRed Visit a non SNP area and find out what isn't great about Scotland

I don't dislike the whole of Scotland. I like the rural parts and the north. But the trouble is that its very hard to live there (and not that many people do) as there are so few jobs and the transport links aren't great. I also think Scottish rural people are great, but the fervent type of SNP support you come across in cities like Glasgow and Dundee I honestly find a bit stomach churning.

Currently live in London and have visited Edinburgh often (family there). Have also been to some of the commuter towns every now and then. Also work in financial services (banking).

Very different lifestyles imo. I wouldn’t move just for the schools - yes, they are very good, but I find it hard to believe there aren’t also v good ones in Edinburgh, esp if you can pay?

The only reason I would move (and what keeps me where I am), is if you or your DH could get a decent pay rise and/or much greater career potential by being within commuting distance to London AND you felt that would allow you to pay for better schooling or otherwise advantage your kids. We have looked at moving elsewhere in the UK and it’s always the pay cut we’d have to take and the more limited career options that stop us.

But also remember London life is more expensive, so the pay difference needs to be significant.

Also the attitude that everything here is perfect

Oh we are very aware everything isn't perfect. But we are working on it 😁

But there's no way I would live somewhere that I could see no positives in. I feel that if someone can't see anything positive in an amazing city like Edinburgh, that's entirely a reflection on them rather than on the city itself. If all someone can talk about is what isn't perfect, then that's all they are looking for. And I, and most people on this thread to be fair, choose to see the good. I find it makes for a more enjoyable life, personally.

Oh and really, saying Scots students aren't interested in Oxbridge is ridiculous

Interesting. Weren't you saying the exact opposite, a few pages back?

But I really don't like Scotland that much and I hope to get another job and move away relatively soon. This sort of attitude (of pouring scorn on anyone who criticises it) is one of the reasons I don't like it.

Good. Don’t let the door smack you on your arse as you go.

Your comments about Scottish students being parochial and not wanting to leave home to attend university and not speaking up in classes tells me a lot more about you than about them. If your attitude in tutorials is the same as the way you write about Scotland / your students / your family, then there’s no way I’d be opening my mouth in your classes either.

BTW, my DC’s (very state) academy sent kids to LSE, Imperial, Oxford, Queen’s, Trinity, UCL and US universities amongst many others. The ones that stayed at home were because they couldn’t afford to stay away (because loans and bursaries don’t cover costs, and yes that is a consideration if your income is fuck all) or because the specific course they wanted to do was available at the ancient university on their doorstep.

HTH

"we"? ImNotMelmSomeoneElse

Who is "we" and is it a special club people with the "right" views have to be invited to, or does it extend to the whole of society?

You really think there is something wrong with people holding viewpoints? Only state-sanctioned viewpoints should be allowed?

Its just becoming too controlled a country for my liking.

OP I’m sure you already know this but post Brexit your 4.5month old will be classified as an overseas student if studying abroad, so fees will be eye watering. But hey, sovereignty.

Who is "we" and is it a special club people with the "right" views have to be invited to, or does it extend to the whole of society?

'we' are people in Scotland. We know about homelessness and drug abuse and religious divide and crime etc etc etc.

Basically 'we' are the people that you are accusing if having the attitude that everything is perfect.

You really think there is something wrong with people holding viewpoints? Only state-sanctioned viewpoints should be allowed?

Where did I say that?

Well then ImnotMelmSomeoneElse that sounds lovely. I'd rather be somewhere a bit more tolerant where there isn't this sinister "we" about who police people's opinions and crack down on them for not towing the party line.

'we' are people in Scotland. We know about homelessness and drug abuse and religious divide and crime etc etc etc.

You enjoy your Friday night. I'm not going to spend it making personal attacks on posters and stalking them to try and ridicule them.

I hope OP finds a decision to suit.

Haven’t read all the posts, but if your husband is concerned about schools- Northern Ireland gets the best academic results consistently in the UK. Minimal private schools but fantastic grammars.
My children were at a private Edinburgh school deemed one of the best- but it is no where near at the level of the school they moved to here.

Lots of reasons Greenland, some probably worth challenging others perfectly valid. I don't exactly think its a bad thing for a country to keep bright students to educate at home, lots of positives to that.

If you can find work, a home and a reasonable school, stay in Edinburgh. It's not easier living in the S E.

So be sceptical indeed but don't unduly try to make a fool out of people because they aren't a fan of the SNP. Or is this what awaits Scotland?

I am pretty ambivalent about the SNP, so I don’t much care what you think of them either.

If you think you’re being made to look a fool, then you might want to consider (and own) your comments.

That's funny. You come here and complain about everything Scotland other than rural and North, and then accuse me off being intolerant?

I've not made any personal attacks, or stalked or ridiculed anyone.

Where have I told people what to think? The only thing I said about 'we' is that we know Scotland isn't perfect! How on earth are you finding that in any way controversial when you have spend the evening saying exactly that!

I think the stalking comment was to me - since this poster has cropped up on other threads in the last few days with contradictory statements.

Always happy to oblige

We moved from Edinburgh to Surrey - came to Surrey for two years and that was 18 years ago. One over-riding reason we would never go back - the weather!!!! It allows for a completely different, outdoorsy lifestyle in the south

Sabrina I think the stalking comment was to me - since this poster has cropped up on other threads in the last few days with contradictory statements.

Actually, you are creeping me out. You are really trying to work out how to identify me in real life, aren't you? You do realise this is the internet, and there are all sorts of weirdos out there that a person might want to avoid "meeting"? Do you have any idea how creepy and sinister you are sounding?

Don't you have anything better to do with your time? You have completely derailed this this thread. At least my comments were about the actual thread topic.

OK the chat has moved waaaay on from the OP but

Also the A-level system is widely recognised across different countries (so potential for studying overseas) but the same cant be said for the Scotland system. Some, if not most of Edinburgh's private schools offer GCSEs and A-levels