Schools in Scotland (Stirling area)

[Jo121Cambridge]

Hi all

We are hoping to move to Scotland this year, my husband will be transferring to Stirling. Ideally we would like to live in a village, but as we have 2 young schools - this is our priority!

So if any Scottish mums can help out in recommending nice areas with good schools that would be great. I have a 5 year old and a 3 year old (due to start school next year).

I have no knowledge at all of Scotland (i'm in England) and would really appreciate any help at all!

Thanks, Jo

Villages are not the same thing in Central Scotland as they are in SE England.

I don't know Stirling schools at all, perahps you could post in local page too.

North of Stirling,Dunblane is a nice small town with well-regarded primary and secondary schools.

I stay in Stirling, the popular schools are Dunblane Primary and Bridge of Allan.

I suppose it
Depends on which village you stay? Do u have an idea where yet?

Yep what minicremegg said

Thanks - its ridiculous but I haven't got a clue where to start our search! Hubby's work will be in Stirling thats all I know for sure.

I have it in my head that I want to be within an hour away from Edinburgh (the one and only place I have ever visited in Scotland!)

I don't want to be remote, but like village life really - you know less built up etc, but not too far aware from the towns.

I will research Dunblane - thats a start! We are coming up in a few weeks just for a couple of days to drive around as many places as possible to start getting an idea where we can get a house (near good schools)

Thanks everyone

Think we are narrowing down now towards Bridge of Allan and Dunfermline!

Hopefully we will find some new schools in these areas (and some houses!) Im hoping the property prices won't be too expensive in these areas.

Bridge of Allan is a lovely place, lots of wee cafés, shops on the high street etc everything on your door step basically

Dunfermline is a bit of a commute to Stirling, and it's a large town not a village.

Bridge of Allan and Dunblane are both lovely and much closer to Stirling. Dunblane has some of the best state schools in Scotland.

For village feel also look at Linlithgow. Or for thr cheaper alternative Polmont. Both within 20-40 mins of Edinburgh and Stirling or less by train.

Have a look at Culross on the Fife coast, very close to Kincardine. Very olde worlde and pretty with a good primary.

This information is fantastic, thank you so much! I have made a note of all these places to visit next week.

We are in a very similar position Jo121. Next week, if you see another English couple with two children in tow, then please come up and say hello! We may be scouting the same areas.

Another voice here for Linlithgow, a town of about 12,000 people. I honestly think it's the best place to live between Glasgow and Edinburgh. It has a very good high school - top 10 in Scotland on Higher results, if that's of interest - and five good primaries. You're on the train line for Stirling, but also for Edinburgh (20 minutes) and Glasgow (30 minutes). You're a 15 minutes drive along a good motorway from Edinburgh airport too.

But better than all that, it's a lovely place. At the heart of the town is a really beautiful loch overlooked by Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. The Union Canal runs through Linlithgow on its way from Edinburgh to Falkirk, where the Falkirk Wheel connects it to another canal all the way to Glasgow. The town is full of life too, loads of active societies and clubs, lots of stuff for children to do. A pretty decent high street with lots of good pubs and shops, and a few good restaurants. Always winning Scotland in Bloom awards too. The countryside round about is pretty, with Beecraigs Country Park at the back of the town.

I could go on!

Dunblane's very nice too, but for me Linlithgow tops it.

Take a look at www.linlithgow.com to see what goes on here.

Hey RockDoctor how funny! where abouts are you staying? We are staying at Best Western in Dunfermline from Friday til Monday.

Does anyone have any opinions on a place called Denny? Seen a nice house online and it appears to have a few schools nearby!

We are defo gonna check out Dunblane, Bridge of Allen, Falkirk, and Polmont. I have already looked online at Linlithgow and decided to not even visit it - as I will probably fall in love with the place and have already seen that I can't actually afford it ha ha. We are prob looking to spent about £250k and want to have 4 bedrooms if possible with a decent (ish) garden (although struggling to find anywhere with much garden!)

Linlithgow I think I would need a much bigger budget unfortunately.

RockDoctor - how old are your kiddies? Ours are 3 and 5 but they aren't coming with us on the trip (my mum is looking after them for us)

We lived in Linlithgow for 4 years from 2000, moved a few miles away for a bigger family house when we had our DS, regretted it, and moved back in 2008. We're in a much smaller house, but we couldn't be happier with our choice.

If the house is that important to you, and you're not minted, avoid!

ha ha thank you! I figured as much. I looked online and I would have to get a smaller house than I have now to live in Linlithgow. I don't mind going a bit smaller but as I work from home I do need a bit of space really. I figured as much so its best I don't visit the lovely Linlithgow.

I'm originally from Denny and unfortunately the local authority have all but abandoned the town. The town centre is a disgrace and the regeneration planned is cheap and shoddy.

St Pats is a good school that feeds to St Modans in Stirling however the other primary's feed to Denny High which I don't think does great on exam tables

My friend is from Denny. I am an English woman in Glasgow. Avoid Denny. I would suggest Dunblane.

OK thank you very much, we want to make the most of our time so now I know to not bother visiting Denny! Brilliant.

So far I plan to visit:
Dunblane, Bridge of Allan, Dollar, Larbert, Polmont, Kincardine, Dunfermline (thats day 1)

day 2 I want to visit Edinburgh and surrounding suburbs

If anyone has any strong opinions on these places or suggest I don't bother then please just tell me!

We are on our way tomorrow morning (Friday). But I shall check mumsnet for updates on the journey :-)

I really am so grateful for the insight ladies x

I am 2 minutes away from denny. Bonnybridge Primary is a good school here and St Josephs Primary in Bonnybridge is a tremendous school with a nondominational nursey and they also accept non catholics into the primary if they have attended their nursey. My dd1 attends the nursery, she starts their primary in august. Great sense of community and solidarity at the scho and very welcoming staff especially dd1s nursery staff

Hope this helps

7to5
I agree completely...... avoid denny. I attended Denny High and it was an awful school.

stooriehoose

Denny looks horrendous just now with their half demolishing process. Makes me feel horrible driving through it

(wonders if she knows midwifeandmum) I was at Denny High from 1985 to 1990.

bloody awful school I agree

The town centre is really depressing and when you see how it used to look before they knocked all the wee old shops down and put up the blocks it!

I must add. That st josephs will still accept non catholics into the primary even if they havent attended their nursey. The headmistress would be best to speak too

Stooiehoose

I attended denny high late 90s till early 00s