EDINBURGH MUMSNETTERS - HELP!!

[Raptorrethy]

A few months ago I started a thread about living near Edinburgh - specifically within 30 mins of the airport. Moving to that area was on the cards and it is again - but the thread, of course, has disappeared as it was in Chat!! It was over 100 posts of great, friendly advice and I NEED IT AGAIN!! You lot were soooo lovely and I hope you will perhaps take a minute or two to post your advice again as a move is even more imminent now. THANK YOU in advance.

So - we would like to be semi-rural, preferably in a village, but must be 30-40 mins from Edinburgh Airport. Schools are a crucial factor - we have DD8 and DS6. We want, as does everyone, a lovely and successful primary school and then caring and thriving secondary - good state or private. DD very academic, DS more into being as noisy as possible as befits a 6yo boy . I am a teacher so would be looking for a job, too, but not crucial straight away. I'm also interested in the weather and midges - are they a nightmare?!

Let's go - can we make over 100 posts from unbelievably brilliant Scottish people again???

and here's a for good measure.

[Raptorrrethy]

DH off to Dollar next week to check it out. Any last place names he should see? (Potential places to live.) So exciting!

[Rockdoctor]

Thanks wiggly - I need to read this thread in more detail and do some more research. I get the feeling Dollar is quite academic, which would suit one of my DCs but probably not the other. Lovely part of the world though and I'm quite keen to make the move at some stage.

[wigglybeezer]

Rockdoctor, Dollar would be most offended that you thought it was a boys school!, It has been co-ed right from the start in the early 1800's! It used to be grant aided, my Dad went there for nothing and fees for local pupils were means tested, unfortunately it is still good but now very expensive!

Strathallan follows the English exam system which is useful for families that might move back down south in the middle of high school.

[PrimalLass]

There is also Cliftonhall, at Newbridge. Now that is in the flight path near the airport.

[PrimalLass]

Strathallan, MostlyCake?

Also, St Leonards in St Andrews. Neither are 30 mins from the airport, however.

[Crutchlow35]

I've never smelt the chicken Mostly.

[MostlyCake]

Kinross isn't 30 mins from the airport during rush hour and there are indoor chicken sheds fairly close by which STINK out Kinross if the winds blowing in the right direction....

There is a private school in Perth which is supposed to be good...can't remember the name.....

[Rockdoctor]

Raptorrethy my DCs are 6 and 3. The youngest will start reception this year in England but would not start school in Scotland until 2015 (one reason for delaying the move). As I said, we visited Beaconhurst earlier this year. I hadn't looked at Dollar in much detail as I had it in my mind that it was a boys school - I need to go back and do some more research.

[Raptorrrethy]

Thank you for more replies. It is so good to hear from people who live in the area already and recommend it.

Sunbeam, we drove along the high street in SQ (I think?) and there were cafes and a couple of galleries etc, and right on the sea front.

Time thank you for the info about Dunfermline.

Rockdoctor how interesting that you are planning a move there too! We feel exactly the same about Edinburgh - for what we want, we just can't have it on our budget so we are looking further afield. Beaconhurst looks lovely. We need to go back to visit Dollar and Beaconhurst, now…another trip to arrange. Obvs now we will wait until later in the year as schools are shutting up shop now…
How old are your DCs?

[Rockdoctor]

Hi Raptorrethy, we are in a similar position although our move has now been put back 12 months. We realise we are priced out of Edinburgh itself (for the lifestyle we want), and are gravitating towards the Stirling/Dunblane area, although we love Aberdour as well. If private schools are an option, have you looked at Beaconhurst School in Bridge of Allan. It goes through from infants to sixth form and we were very impressed when we visited last year. As far as I know it is non-selective and has some impressive results and a lovely feel.

Watching this thread with interest.

[Timeisawastin]

I'm in Dunfermline, although originally from Edinburgh, via 10 yrs in the Glasgow area. I like Dunfermline although it has a bit of small-town mentality. It's convenient for lots of places and has plenty of amenities. The housing is plentiful and relatively cheap (although I would personally avoid Duloch Park). We are in a small village very near the town and my DC are bussed into a good state secondary school, recently inspected with excellent results. Both are doing well academically and will almost certainly be off to uni in the next couple of years.

The new bridge over the Forth will be open in a couple of years and should take some of the 'crapshoot' issues of the Forth Road Bridge away. For us, moving to Dunfermline when our DC were little was a good move.

[Sunbeam18]

Have you looked at Dunfermline? It's a lovely town with great parks. What parts of South Queensferry did you see? The High St and surrounds are lovely and are right on the beach, and we are 10 mins from the airport and within City of Edinburgh boundaries. I know there are some rough bits, but to be honest you would struggle to find somewhere that doesn't in your radius.

[Crutchlow35]

Kinross/Milnathort. Excellent schools, some shopping and on the motorway into Edinburgh so you can either use any of the park and ride facilities at Kinross, Halbeath or Ferry Toll or park in Inverkeithing, Dunfermline and Rostyh and get the train into Edinburgh.

[Raptorrrethy]

I think so, wiggly. We really looked closely but nothing quite fitted the school/budget/location conundrum.

[wigglybeezer]

Just read that work is at the airport so you would be better nearer Stirling ( although I know a family in Dollar where both parents work for airlines) most of the villages near Stirling are former mining or mill villages, not really village greeny. Doune is nice but about 5 miles from the end of the motorway. Again, there are very few villages/ towns in Central Scotland that are entirely lovely, they are mostly ordinary with nice bits. Bridge of Allan is handy for the motorway and has school buses to Dollar as does Dunblane. Are you sure you have discounted West Lothian?

[wigglybeezer]

The villages south west of Dollar are significantly less posh, you want to look at Muckhart or some of the villages between Dollar and Kinross ( as you gain time by being nearer the M90 and also have Kinross High as an option). Try Rumbling Bridge, Crook of Devon, Drum, Cleish. Muckhart is the prettiest and nearest Dollar). Nearer Stirling is Blairlogie which is very cute but a big line of pylons is due to be sited near it in a few years. is work near the airport or do you need the airport for travel?

Weather wise I would say we are a little wetter than Edinburgh as the lovely hills do catch the odd rain cloud, it gets drier again as you go further east.

You are going to have to compromise on something, probably commute time.

[Raptorrrethy]

What we would want, ideally, is a rural property but within a few miles of miles of some shops/life. We lived for many years in a village five miles from the nearest proper town and it was great. Also ideally we would be SW of Dollar as DH would be commuting to Edinburgh Airport.

What's the weather like around you?! Same as Edinburgh pretty much?

[wigglybeezer]

Dementedma, I always end up on these threads because, between friends and family, I have lived or spent time in almost all the popular locations in Central Scotland. I shouldn't really encourage people to move up, it pushes the property prices up but I can't resist singing the praises of Scotland and I genuinely want people to feel they have made a good choice.

[wigglybeezer]

Rapptorrrety, you have been seduced by the lovely photos on the Dollar website haven't you? I feel I have to slow you down a bit for the sake of your family finances, if you are considering living as far out as Dollar would you consider Dunblane?

That said, I think selecting somewhere to live can be a bit like choosing between an arranged marriage and a love match.

[dementedma]

wiggly my kids went/go to Kinross High school too on placing requests!

rapto the deli in dollar is just fab!

[Raptorrrethy]

PS thank you again, and sorry not to reply to each of you by name but I really appreciate the comments.
Wiggly - if we end up coming to Dollar I'll be in touch!

[wigglybeezer]

I think there is the usual verbal and non-verbal reasoning plus a maths and english paper, not sure what else, don't think it is as bad as I have read about grammar school entry down south, I think some people do use tutoring but not many. I could ask one of my friends.
Phone the school and ask, everything is winding up for the end of term here so someone should have the time to talk to you.
If you visit the school I live virtually next door, if you see a harrassed middle aged woman herding a gang of red- haired boys into a car, that will be me!

[Raptorrrethy]

Thank you

[wigglybeezer]

Oh and the cut off date for school years is January 1st at Dollar. One of the harder times to get a place is P6 (called junior 1 at Dollar) as that is when a lot of kids start. The next big intake is S1 at 12. There are formal entry tests and interviews but they can't be that hard as many of the kids I know who have got in were not top of the class at primary. It can be pot luck what spaces are available further down the school.

[Raptorrrethy]

Wiggly - how about getting in at senior level ie at 11?