moving Kent to East coast Scotland, help!

[bellydancingmum]

Hi,
My first post on Mumsnet... Sorry this is rather long, but am in dire need of some advice
Wondering if anyone can help. My husband is being made redundant, but they have offered him a job in Scotland. There isn't much else around so we have decided to move. (after 9 years in London and 6 years in Kent, not far from london)

Got about a year to do so (though he will go in September). Thinking of moving the girls up there in 2011 sometime from April to July.

Told them last night and our eldest was very uupset. She is currently in yr 8 and her birthday is in June. She is at a girls Grammar school.

Please can anyone help with the differences in the school system and if anyone knows what the schools are like in the Angus area I would be interested.

I am at a loss to know how to make things easier for her, any advice? She is worried sick about being the 'geek' and 'stuck in a class full of boys doing maths' (as she is good at maths)

My next daughter is in Yr 5 (primary) and is all set to do 11+ this September (yr 6). :-( Will she be still in primary school by September 2011? (she would be in Secondary yr 7 here, her birthday is July).

I feel awful making them move, but we seem stuck, what with the recession, etc. can't afford to turn this job down :-(

Thank you everyone for all your help, lots to be thinking about

If you can afford it go for the private Dundee High School. Its a really nice day only co-ed private school - not mega posh, just nice normal kids of professional middle class parents. Very good academically and for sports. About 8 or 9k a year for secondary school.

Stonehaven is ridiculously beautiful! I'm very jealous, actually - I had to move to London from work but am originally from Glasgow and tbh I don't much like living here. Ah well. I've taught in both systems so my input might be helpful to you.

One of the main differences between the Scottish and English systems is the choice factor. I've been surprised at the wide variety of different types of schools in England and the choice available to parents. I actually think the Scottish system is better in this respect - it's much fairer and more standardised. Kids, for the most part, go to their local comprehensive which caters for S1 - S6 (first year to sixth year). The subjects etc. available are pretty much the same from school to school. The system is pretty simple so that should make the transition easier.

I believe that the Scottish education system as a whole is stronger; there is no discussion of 'dumbing down' of exams and courses in Scotland and the Higher examinations pupils sit in 5th and 6th year are highly regarded. However, the curriculum is changing (and has already changed in primary schools) - there is some confusion over what the new curriculum will look like, but I think (and hope) it will be a good thing.

Hi !
Likely to be relocating to the edinburgh area my eldest has additional needs so was wondering what are the good schools i really want a small friendly school.

Considering the ages of your DCs I'd say it's a must that you live close to the trainline between Dundee and Aberdeen. I moved form a big city to up there as a pre-teen and HATED it.

There is a hostility to outsiders and I got bullied terribly .

The whole region is very WASPy. I went years without ever seeing a black face.

Arbroath is a junkie hell-hole, I don't know anyone who went to the schools there who stayed on beyond 4th year.

Montrose is fine, if you go further north you get into that Doric accent, which I really didn't like. It's a very parochial region. Lots of people have only ever been to Glasgow or Edinburgh once or twice in their lives, let alone London.

I agree with the others who recommend Dundee High. Quite a few get the train there from Montrose and Arbroath. It's much cheaper than the same school would be down south.

Sorry this is a long time later. But thanks for the posts done after september as I stopped looking then,due to being immersed in looking at these areas.

Update: was couple areas in Dundee was interested in, but ended up mainly looking in area N of Montrose up to Stonehaven, girls liked the 2 secondary schools there. Thought we had a house in Laurencekirk, got schools allsorted. Then 2 weeks before we sold in England we lost the Scottish house. :-( In a frantic rush got a rental property in Inverbervie.

Has been a huge culture shock, though younger 2 love being able to play 'out' the way I did as a kid. Older one finding mackie (in Stonehaven) hard work but has made friends. It's very big and she has been used to a girls grammar. But I think she will be ok (I hope so anyway, I'm very anxious about it).

Younger 2 like Bervie primary, alot to get used to,like going back to the 1950's!! But seems nice. Middle one has been put in P7 rather than being 'put down' with her age group as the other 2 have been. This means she's off to the mackie in August. (which we were not expecting)

We are all (except husband) homesick like mad, but am trying to follow 'relocation' websites advice to make time to 'grieve' for old life and get busy with a new routine.

Have found another 'perfect' (almost) house,but it's in Johnshaven. someone who teaches told me that 'she wouldn't move there' that some inner city families have been moved there by the council over last 5 - 10 years and the school and village is suffering. I don't know how true, or bad this is. I am worried and don't know what to do. Husband has said that it will be ok as the older 2 will be at the Mackie anyway and the younger one we can apply to keep her at Bervie, though I'll have to buy a car.

Apparantly so long as they have the space she can stay (only if someone moves into Bervie area and they are full then she might not be able to stay).

Husband says that if she goes to Johnshaven primary and there are problems maybe we can pay for Lathallan private school (in village) and bump her back up to her English year equivalent, then it would only be 2 years then she's off to the Mackie as well.

I really don't know what to do. Does anyone know the schools or area better than me? When I search on the web there are plenty of postive comments about Johnshaven as it has an arty/touristy side as well as some negative comments,which i'msure are similar to those about any small isolated place.

There is also a house in St Cyrus that the same person was very positive about, though it has some depressing looking housing there. It would take alot of evidence to make my husband not buy the J house.

Have also been rather depressed at the way so many posters have said to go for the private schools instead. I have a friend inEdinburgh who has done that and they are working allthe hours to be able to affordit.

And as for me finding work....... :-(
My husband's colleagues who have also comeup from England seem much happier, but they have either older children (leaving for Uni age) or smaller kids (or none) so it's gone much smoother for them.

Iknow I'masking about a much smaller geographical area than before,but would welcome any input.

Sorry for long post, alot has happened!
Bd mum